On March 17, 1930 a construction marathon began to build the tallest skyscraper on the planet. The erecting of a building that was even before its termination determined to become an American landmark was of course an interesting working field for contemporary photographers like Alfred Stieglitz and Lewis Wickes Hine. But while the first pictured the gigantic buildings in New York, the latter took a different focus in his work. In the same way as in his earlier photographs of immigrants entering Ellis Island and children working day and night in American factories, Hine focused on the people in his later work. In his book“Men at Work: Photographic Studies of Modern Men and Machines”he portrayed the workers constructing the Empire State Building and he looked behind the walls and steel beams to honor the people who made such an architectural wonder possible.
Other aspects of his late project nevertheless appear contradictory comparing them to his early landmarks of social photography. In the“Men at Work”pictures he praises the modern worker as the centre of a new technologic, clearly capitalist era, neglecting the social reality of the Great Depression. How can Lewis Hine suddenly promote capitalism, without showing the other side of the medal - the unemployed, the socially excluded, the poor? For what reason did he not continue to portray the under-dogs of the system, picturing broke farmers in the Mid-West or unemployed workers lining up on New York’s streets, but instead started promotion work for big capitalist like John Jakob Raskob? This paper will look at four pictures from Hine’s“Men at Work”series on the construction of the Empire State Building taken during a six-month-period between 1930 and 1931. It will interpret them in their social context, trying to point out the intention of the photographer. Hine’s portraits will be discussed looking for reasons for the change of focus in his work. To conclude the paper, the question will be asked if this late series is really a break in his work or not rather a completion of an overall task. The photographs discussed in this paper were taken from Lewis Hine’s book“Men at Work: Studies of Modern Men and Machines”and the pictorial “The Empire State Building” edited by Claudine Weber-Hof.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The Construction of the Empire State Building and the Great Depression
- 3. Interpretation of Representative Pictures From Lewis Hine's "Men at Work" Series
- 3.1 "Icarus Atop Empire State Building"
- 3.2 "Guiding a Beam"
- 3.3 “Portrait of an Unidentified Worker Holding a Bucket”
- 3.4 "Taking a Break High Above Manhattan"
- 4. Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper analyzes four photographs from Lewis Hine's "Men at Work" series, focusing on the images' social context and the photographer's intentions. The study explores the apparent shift in Hine's photographic focus from social critique to a seemingly celebratory portrayal of the modern worker during the Great Depression. The analysis aims to determine whether this shift represents a break from his earlier work or a natural evolution of his artistic and social commentary.
- Lewis Hine's photographic style and evolution.
- The social and economic context of the Empire State Building's construction during the Great Depression.
- The portrayal of workers in Hine's photographs and the implications of their depiction.
- The tension between celebrating technological progress and acknowledging social inequalities.
- The intended audience and purpose of Hine's "Men at Work" series.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis by introducing Lewis Hine's photographic work, particularly his shift in focus from documenting social injustices to portraying the construction workers of the Empire State Building. It highlights the apparent contradiction between Hine's celebration of modern industry and the harsh realities of the Great Depression, posing the central question of whether this shift represents a fundamental change in his artistic approach or a continuation of his broader social commentary. The chapter establishes the scope of the paper, focusing on four specific photographs from the "Men at Work" series and their interpretation within their historical context.
2. The Construction of the Empire State Building and the Great Depression: This chapter provides the crucial historical backdrop for understanding Hine's photographs. It details the rapid construction of the Empire State Building against the backdrop of the devastating Great Depression, highlighting the paradoxical juxtaposition of monumental progress amidst widespread economic hardship and unemployment. The chapter emphasizes the immense scale of the project, involving thousands of workers, and connects the building's symbolic significance to the national desire for overcoming economic adversity. It also poignantly illustrates the precariousness of the workers' situation, as many faced joblessness upon the building's completion.
3. Interpretation of Representative Pictures From Lewis Hine's "Men at Work" Series: This chapter, though divided into sub-sections for individual photograph analyses, is treated as a single cohesive unit. It delves into the detailed interpretation of selected photographs from Hine's "Men at Work" series, exploring their visual composition, symbolism, and social context. The analysis considers the workers' perspectives, their relationship to their environment, and the photographer's choices in framing and presentation, ultimately aiming to shed light on the photographer's intent and the deeper implications of the images.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Lewis Hine, Empire State Building, Great Depression, American photography, social documentary, modernism, labor, construction workers, visual culture, historical context.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Lewis Hine's "Men at Work" Series During the Great Depression
What is the overall focus of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of an academic paper analyzing four photographs from Lewis Hine's "Men at Work" series, taken during the construction of the Empire State Building in the Great Depression. The analysis examines Hine's photographic style, the social context of the photographs, and the photographer's intentions, exploring the apparent shift in his focus from social critique to a seemingly celebratory portrayal of modern workers.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper explores several key themes, including Lewis Hine's photographic style and its evolution; the social and economic context of the Empire State Building's construction during the Great Depression; the portrayal of workers in Hine's photographs and the implications of their depiction; the tension between celebrating technological progress and acknowledging social inequalities; and the intended audience and purpose of Hine's "Men at Work" series.
What specific photographs are analyzed in the paper?
The paper focuses on four specific photographs from Lewis Hine's "Men at Work" series: "Icarus Atop Empire State Building," "Guiding a Beam," “Portrait of an Unidentified Worker Holding a Bucket,” and "Taking a Break High Above Manhattan."
What is the central research question addressed in the paper?
The central question is whether the apparent shift in Hine's photographic focus—from documenting social injustices to portraying the construction workers of the Empire State Building in a seemingly celebratory manner—represents a fundamental change in his artistic approach or a continuation of his broader social commentary.
How does the paper address the historical context of the photographs?
The paper provides detailed historical background on the construction of the Empire State Building during the Great Depression. It highlights the paradoxical juxtaposition of monumental progress amidst widespread economic hardship and unemployment, emphasizing the immense scale of the project and the precariousness of the workers' situation.
What is the methodology used in the analysis of the photographs?
The analysis of the photographs delves into their visual composition, symbolism, and social context. It considers the workers' perspectives, their relationship to their environment, and the photographer's choices in framing and presentation to understand the photographer's intent and the deeper implications of the images.
What are the key chapters and their summaries?
The paper includes an introduction setting the stage for the analysis; a chapter detailing the historical context of the Empire State Building's construction during the Great Depression; a chapter dedicated to the detailed interpretation of the four selected photographs; and a conclusion.
What are the keywords associated with this research?
The keywords are: Lewis Hine, Empire State Building, Great Depression, American photography, social documentary, modernism, labor, construction workers, visual culture, historical context.
- Quote paper
- Janine Schildt (Author), 2005, Men at Work: Lewis Hine's Photographs of the Workers who Constructed the Empire State Building, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/67182
