“Old Timer Structural Worker,” created by Lewis Hine in 1930, is a photograph that belongs to the Social Realism movement. This genre of art typically aims to draw attention to the socio-economic conditions and struggles of everyday people. The artwork features a structural worker performing his duties high above a bustling cityscape, set against the iconic backdrop of New York City’s skyline.
The photograph captures an elderly worker in mid-task, resolutely focused despite the dizzying heights. He is perched on the steel framework of a structure, wielding a wrench as he secures bolts with careful precision. The worker is clad in practical overalls and a cap that shields him from the elements. The scene provides a striking juxtaposition between the worker’s proximity to inherent danger and the distant, almost serene, urban landscape below. The Chrysler Building can be prominently seen, indicating the worker’s considerable height above the city. The image is both a testament to human determination and a poignant social commentary on the labor conditions of the era.
