Lewis W. Hine

1908, probably printed in the 1930s or 1940s

Karl Steinorth, ed., Lewis Hine: Passionate Journey, Photographs 1905-1937 (George Eastman House, 1996), p. 123

Vicki Goldberg, Children at Work (Munich, 1999), p. 58

Russell Freedman, Kids at Work: Lewis Hine and the Crusade Against Child Labor (New York, 1994), p. 34

Vicki Goldberg, The Power of Photography: How Photography Changed Our Lives (New York, 1991), p. 175

Barbara Haskell, The American Century: Art & Culture, 1900-1950 (Whitney Museum, 2000), p. 85, fig. 158

This large, slightly warm-toned print, on double-weight paper with a surface sheen, is in generally very good condition. Upon close examination, several tiny matte deposits, likely original retouching, are visible overall. In raking light, the following are visible: a pen-point-sized impression that does not break the emulsion in the lower left quadrant; a small, soft crease in the lower right quadrant; and a few long, soft scuffs overall. The margin corners are bumped. The reverse of the print is lightly soiled from handling. '10190' and '113.20' are written in an unidentified hand in pencil on the reverse. When examined under ultraviolet light, this print does not appear to fluoresce. We have dated this print circa 1930s-1940s, as it compares similarly to prints at The Museum of Modern Art by Hine of this and other subjects that were acquired by the museum from The Photo League in the 1940s. The prints, also unmarked, are on similar paper, are of similar size and tonality, and have the same small margins.
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