The artwork, titled “Child Laborer,” was created by Lewis Hine in 1908 as part of the National Child Labor Committee photographs series. This photograph is a representation of the Social Realism art movement and belongs to the genre of photojournalism.
The artwork starkly captures a young child laborer standing in the middle of a long, narrow aisle between rows of industrial machines in what appears to be a textile factory. The child, dressed in humble, worn clothing, gazes directly at the camera with a solemn expression. The scene is filled with the stark contrast between the small figure of the child and the imposing, repetitive structure of the machinery, emphasizing the harsh realities of child labor during that era. Scattered pieces of cotton on the floor add to the atmosphere of the industrial setting. The photograph powerfully conveys the plight and exploitation of child workers, evoking empathy and a call for social change.
