The stage which daily brings in mail, freight, express and passengers to Pie Town, New Mexico  c. 1940 - 1969

This photograph of Pie Town, New Mexico was taken by Russell Lee. The composition is organized around the car and the post office. It feels like a stage set. I can imagine Lee behind the camera, waiting for the perfect alignment of elements to capture the scene’s essence. The light is pretty flat, emphasizing the textures and details of the buildings and the objects that adorn the roof of the vehicle. I can imagine the conversations taking place between the figures as they unload the car, each carrying out their daily routines. This image also reminds me of Walker Evans, with the starkness of documentary and the desire to show America as it is. It is also about the relationship between people and their environment. It’s a snapshot of a community, where the daily arrival of mail and supplies is an event in itself, so the image is like a painting of the everyday.