The artwork titled “Laura Petty, a 6 Year Old Berry Picker on Jenkins Farm, Rock Creek, Maryland, 1909,” captured by Lewis Hine in 1909, is a representative piece of the Social Realism art movement. This photograph is part of the “National Child Labor Committee photographs” series and depicts a young girl working as a berry picker. The genre of the artwork is photography.
The artwork features a young girl, presumably Laura Petty, standing confidently in a field surrounded by berry plants. She is dressed in a simple plaid dress with a bow in her hair, exuding a mixture of innocence and resilience. The sepia tone of the photograph, characteristic of the time period, adds a sense of historicity and gravitas to the image, reminding viewers of the harsh realities faced by child laborers in the early 20th century. The natural setting of the farm, captured with meticulous detail, contrasts with the child’s youthful presence, making a poignant statement about the conditions and societal norms of the era.
