The artwork titled “Advertisements from Natchez, Mississippi of a popular malaria cure” was created by Ben Shahn in 1935. This piece is aligned with the Social Realism art movement and falls under the genre of photography.
The artwork showcases a rustic wooden structure adorned with numerous advertisements promoting various medicinal cures, particularly for ailments such as colds and fever. Prominently, the numbers “666” are repeatedly featured, likely referring to a well-known brand of the time. The scene captures a moment of everyday life, with a man standing near the entrance of the building, set against the backdrop of a modest neighborhood. The photograph offers a stark glimpse into the socio-economic conditions and health concerns prevalent in Natchez, Mississippi during the mid-1930s, reflecting the social realist objective of presenting authentic depictions of ordinary life.
