Art Does Not Exist In A Vacuum
This photograph by Lewis Hine depicts a young worker boy. Looking at this picture makes me think of the boy and the childhood he missed out on. He's doing hard physical work which today would only be done by a trained adult. We don't know much about this kid or what happened to him later in life.
This photograph by Dorothea Lange shows a worried mother with two children on her sides. This is an important picture because it represents what many people were feeling during the time of the Great Depression. Parents worried about whether or not they would be able to provide for their children, and children had to trust that their parents would be able to take care of them.
This picture shows a man standing outside a wooden building, presumably his house. He looks tired and a little bit sad, he might be going through some hard times.
This picture by Mark Seliger is a portrait of Nirvana guitarist Kurt Cobain. Taken on October 27, 1993, about 5 months before his death, this picture gives us a glimpse into what Kurt may have been feeling. Being a rock star and dealing with depression and a heroin addiction isn't easy.
This picture taken by Steve McCurry shows a miner. When I see this picture I see someone who's been working hard and could use a much needed break.
Making Connections
How do these pictures connect to each other? All these photographers helped document what people were experiencing at the time. Whether it was a mother struggling to take care of her children or a rock star dealing with the difficulties of being famous, these photographers captured the emotions of these people for us to look back on and learn from.