Son of a Tenant Farmer Reading the Morning Paper While Waiting for a Noon Meal, 1939. Lee
From the first look of this photo it is very clear that this is a man who has lost all hope in terms of finding a job and suggests that his day to day life is all very tedious and boring due to him not having a job, and that all he has to look forward his is noon meal.
This is a prime example of one of the many people that the great depression had a huge affect upon. This also gives the perception of the American dream of a failed or unattainable idea in the eyes of many Americans during this period.
From the looks of this individual however paints a different picture, he looks rather clean and well kept, which is the polar opposite of the surroundings that he is living in. This could suggest that even though he is currently out of a job, he is still searching to find one and pursue the American dream in the hopes of achieving a better life for himself.
This photo from Russell Lee may simply document the people and interiors he witnessed, they messy arrangements and living quarters may also hint at their distressed lives that have been thrown off balance due to the hardships in this time period.
http://thislandpress.com/2014/10/16/hard-times-oklahoma-a-russell-lee-photo-essay/
Cool!
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