Plantation overseer. Before even looking at this photograph, I have an impression of what I can be expected to see. So are the power of words paired with past connotations and experiences. Still, my first glance at this photograph did not fail to disappoint. A group of four African Americans, lounges on the steps of a general store. Meanwhile in the foreground, an overweight white man, presumably the landowner, or in other words the plantation overseer, leans against a shiny car. Adding to the mood of the scene overall is that fact that this photograph was shot in black and white, not out of an artistic choice, but reflecting the era when this photograph was taken. Similarly, the clothing all five men reveal the age of the photograph, probably from around 1890 to 1920.
Back to the people in the scene, the landowner's pose seams to convey smugness as well as importance. The glances the four African Americans are giving this man seems to add more to his overall impression. In particular, the man standing in the back left has an expression of frustration and anger. Could this possibly come from the fact that the landowner is being photographed? Maybe this man speculates that a photograph will increase the landowner's already over inflated ego.
However, if the landowner hoped to be the soul focus of the photograph, he was sorely disappointed. Because of the depth of field used, a large depth of field, all of the subjects of the photograph are clear and in focus. The eye seems to be drawn in a pattern from the white landowner diagonally across the three faces of the sitting men and up to the upper left hand corner to the standing man. This pattern seems to possibly suggest the societal importance of each person; the order in which they are noticed is the order in which society will serve them.
At this point in my analysis, I decided to re-look at the photograph, as I seemed to have run off on a bit of a side tangent. That's when I noticed the Coca-Cola sign on the side of the building. I had failed to notice it, as well as the license plate the landowner was leaning on. Had this been a color photo, or had used older techniques of "painting" color into photos, a viewer's eye may have been more drawn to them. Also, our eyes are usually more drawn to text, but the variation of the facial expressions from the five men. I also found it interesting that all five men are wearing hats, the four in the front wearing variations of fedoras, while the standing man is wearing a newsboy hat.
The overall feel of the photograph conveys a dark, moody air. While the landowner is standing erectly, he doesn't seem particularly happy. Neither do the four African Americans, all with varying types of grimaces. I think it likely portrays a time of hardship and frustration. Which always seemed to be Dorothea's specialty.
You picked up on the relationship and tension between the man standing and the overseer. I didn't catch this at all, but the more I look at it, the geometry and lines do kind of circle around these two men and they form two points of an imaginary triangle. I didn't see the man's expression in the back as frustrated or angry though. He seems to be lightly amused and a smile seems to be cracking on the left side of his face.
ReplyDeleteInteresting view with the geometery. I didn't see it either at first, but it does make sense. The photo that I had showed more of the man on the far left--you can only see his hands here--and I wonder if how that would play into the angles?? Then my mind goes further, and I'm curious as to why some "copies" have more of this man than others. He seemed important in relation to the landowner. Could that change your perception of him?
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