The artwork titled “The new Chinese woman works in factories,” created by Henri Cartier-Bresson in 1961, is a piece of photography that falls under the genre of photojournalism. This compelling image is currently part of a private collection.
The artwork portrays a scene from inside a factory where a woman is engrossed in her work, demonstrating the significant role of women in industrial labor during that era in China. The composition, in classic black and white, captures the intensity and focus of the subject, leaning into a machine, indicative of manual precision and dedication. The background showcases more industrial machinery and possibly other workers, creating a broader context of a bustling factory environment. Cartier-Bresson’s photograph not only documents a historical reality but also speaks to themes of labor, gender roles, and societal transformation during the mid-20th century in China.
