The Photographs of Ben Shahn: The Library of Congress

by Timothy Egan (Introduction), Ben Shahn (Photographer)

Part of a completely new photography series, featuring The Library of Congress’ internationally renowned collection of Farm Security Administration (FSA) and Office of War Information (OWI) photographs, this title provides a unique view of American life during the Great Depression and Second World War. Fields of The Photographs of Ben Shahn features an introduction to his work by Timothy Egan and 50 striking images. Trained as an artist and designer, and best known as a painter and illustrator, Shahn's primary interest was in people rather than landscapes, "the authentic faces of rural America"

Genres: Photography, Nonfiction, History, Art

64 pages, Paperback

First published July 17, 2008

About the author

Timothy Egan is a Pulitzer Prize winning author of nine books, including THE WORST HARD TIME, which won the National Book Award. His latest book, A PILGRIMAGE TO ETERNITY, is a personal story, a journey over an ancient trail, and a history of Christianity. He also writes a biweekly opinion column for The New York Times. HIs book on the photographer Edward Curtis, SHORT NIGHTS OF THE SHADOW CATCHER, won the Carnegie Medal for best nonfiction. His Irish-American book, THE IMMORTAL IRISHMAN, was a New York Times bestseller. A third-generation native of the Pacific Northwest, he lives in Seattle.

Reviews

[Mohammad Ali Shamekhi · Rating 3 out of 5]

این کتاب سومین کتابیه که خوندم و به طور خاص به عکس های سازمان "تأمین امنیت زراعت" در دهه ی سی میلادی می پردازه - بعد از این مجموعه از عکس های آرتور روتستین و این مجموعه از عکس های واکر ایونس. برای چیستی سازمان تأمین امنیت زراعت به ریویوهام ذیل اون دو کتاب مراجعه کنید

این کتاب یکی از مجلدات سری "میدان های دید" از بخش انتشاراتی کتابخانه ی کنگره ی آمریکا است که در اونها عکس های کمتر شناخته شده ی گنجینه ی عکس های سازمان تأمین امنیت زراعت در کتابخونه ی کنگره ارائه شده - هر مجلد شامل یک مقدمه درباره ی یک عکاسه به همراه پنجاه عکس. چنانکه در مقدمه آمده این گنجینه که دوره ی زمانی 1935 تا 1944 رو در بر می گیره از این تعداد سند تشکیل شده: 171 هزار نگاتیو و پوزیتیو سیاه و سفید، 1610 پوزیتیو رنگی، و 107 هزار عکس چاپی - که اغلبشان چاپ شده ی همان نگاتیوها و پوزیتیوها هستند. البته بعد از آغاز جنگ دوم، اسم سازمان تأمین امنیت زراعت به اداره ی داده های جنگی تغییر یافت - ترجمه ی اسامی تحت اللفظی نیست

مقدمه ای که تیموتی اگن برای کتاب نوشته در مورد خلقیات و زندگی بن شان واقعا گویا است و خواندنی. عکس ها هم بعضا جالبن. البته من ترجیح می دادم عکس های 1935 با عکس های 1938 قاطی نمی شدن

حاشیه: من قبل از خوندن مقدمه ی این کتاب از نقش سیاسی این عکس ها مطلع نبودم. ذیل کتاب روتستین از روزولت و نیو دییل، و ارتباط سازمان تأمین امنیت زراعت با اونها صحبت کرده بودم اما نمی دونستم که روزولت برای تصویب مالی طرح هاش در مورد کشاورزی و ... با کنگره مشکل داشت. بخش عکاسی سازمان تأمین امنیت زراعت در واقع وظیفه داشت با به تصویر کشیدن وضع و حال مردم در مناطق مختلف آمریکا کنگره رو راضی به اجرای طرح های روزولت بکنه

[Yaaresse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is part of the Library of Congress efforts to make their staggeringly immense collection of Depression-era photographs better known to the public. Ben Shahn was just one of many artists and photographers who worked with Roy Stryker in the Information Division of the Resettlement Administration (later the Farm Security Administration) in the 1930s-1940s.
It can be argued the project was propaganda; in fact, it's hard to argue that it was not propaganda. That doesn't negate that the photos are as magnificent as they are poignant and intense.

I wish there had been more (or any information about the author and the subjects in this slim volume. I looked him up on Wiki, and he seems to have lived an interesting life.

While reading about Ben Shahn, I fell down the Wiki rabbit hole to entries about the Resettlement Agency and Penderlea Homesteads in NC (where one of the photos was taken), which led me to Hugh McRae, which then led me to McRae's involvement in the 1898 Wilmington Insurrection (aka the Wilmington race riots or, as I tend to think of it, the Wilmington Massacre.) Just happens I have a library book about that topic that has been on hold for months. So, aside from the "how come we never heard about any of this is history class?" of the Resettlement Agency, I'm hoping this McRae tie-in and sighting is a nod from the Library Gods that I might get to read that book sometime this year.

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Photographs from all across America taken by Ben Shahn who captures images from this particular time in history (late 30s early 40s). His photographs of people stick with me the most. I like to see the photographs to help understand more about the country during this challenging period.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shahn's government commissioned photographs are beautiful in a way that they maybe weren't meant to be. They provide an intimate look into a hard season in the history of America. This makes me wonder about the value many photographs being made today and if they will stand the test of time or not.

[Tom Romig · Rating 4 out of 5]

When FDR wanted to promote the Farm Security Administration, he turned to Roy Stryker, an economist from the much afflicted heartland, to develop a program to graphically depict the plight of "the forgotten man at the bottom of the pyramid." Stryker assembled an amazing array of creative people, including Ben Shahn and his friend Walker Evans. Shahn's contribution to this photographic record was, as intended, compelling propaganda, but also moving and original art.

Though he continued in various creative endeavors, remarkably, at around 40 years old, Shahn put aside his camera forever, saying, "Photography ceased to interest me. Suddenly, just like that, I felt I could only be repeating myself and stopped dead."