The Line

The 1930s' depression in the USA was a hard time. This is artwork

from the Grounds for Sculpture depicting a typical bread line. Your

thoughts and comments are always welcome. Thanks for looking.

Holger, the lengths to which people will go when starving are almost inconceivable.  I can only wonder what it's like, since I've been fortunate enough never to have such an experience.  Nonetheless, I am not made of wood, and even though this line of people was created out of nonorganic material, I can feel how it powerfully displays their desperation and their hopelessness.

 

My best,

michael

Holger,

you have captured this image well.  Your lighting was excellent and it definitely shows on the shoulders of these men.  Growing up I heard many stories about this era.  Thanks for sharing. 

Dramatic and well captured, the strong lighting and shadows add to the reality...  Mike

It touches really deep with me as I just came from the movies having seen Ida a film from the 60's in Communist Poland! And it brought back my memories of also early 60's in Cuba! All around the world people have experience hard times! If you give no explanations I will believe it is a real line some were in the world, people suffering from lack of food! Venezuela is going throwgh hard times right now! Impacting image my friend. Warm regards 7

I remember not only bread lines everywhere, when I was a kid in the communism, it was normal! And it wasn't about lack of food! It was lack of good organization, lack of stimulants for good working...now it's quite different, everything is in private hands!

 

Best regards, Holger!

 

PDE

An original result with very nice lighting, Holger!

 

Hi Holger,

  Great job capturing this scene with wonderful lighting.  Take care, Patsy

Ahahah!!! Nice and clever proposal!

Thanks all for the great comments and your own personal recollections of lines like these. Art like this can be inspirational and the Grounds for Sculpture has much to offer, worth a visit. Thanks again.

Holger

These breadlines were in the decade prior to my existence but this sculpture is a reminder to all not to make the same mistakes again lest this generation be similarly burdened.  When we complain about a lineup at the supermarket it would be well to think about those times.  Must have been humiliating.  You chose a great time to photograph this one.  I like that the shadow of one man falls on the back of the one in front.  Connects them together in another way than simply being in a line.  Presenting in B&W is also in line with the times depicted.  Best, LM.

Hola Holger.

Excelente monumento a la desesperanza. Te felicito.

Saludos.

Len, Thanks for your great comment and I totally agree with your sentiments about waiting in line at a supermarket, well said. We do take for granted what we have and it's conceivable that without proper leadership we could find ourselves in hard times if not diligent attention is paid to our surroundings.

Holger

 

Joaquin it is always nice to hear from you, see you soon.

 

Holger

The photo is reminiscent of the times in the way you've handled it. The bright light works well in making it sear, which it already does. The sculpture is made and you've also handled it in a very lifelike way, doing honor to its purpose and respecting its intent. I would love to know who the sculptor is and what city it's in. It's an unflinching and honest view of something we all need to see and feel.

Fred thank you for your astute comment. In answer to your question the artist is George Segal and this work is titled "Depression Breadline", I had forgotten the title but your questions motivated me to check. The exibit is located in Trenton, NJ at The Grounds for Sculpture. Again thanks for your observations and taking the time to look.

Holger

Thanks so much Holger. We have an installation by Segal here in San Francisco, in one of the most lovely and scenic settings you can imagine, back by the bay and the hillsides and the Golden Gate Bridge, which is a holocaust memorial. Though it's a moving piece for sure, I never found it all that great a piece of sculpture. It's hard to negatively critique a piece like the one here in San Francisco because it certainly calls to mind events we must remember and one doesn't want to be seen as unfeeling but one also is entitled to maintain a critical eye when it comes even to artworks that depict significant and moving events. Being critical of his work in San Francisco doesn't lessen my feelings about what he's depicted. In the sculpture you present here, he seems to have avoided some of the clichés he's used in the San Francisco sculpture and breathes life into the scene while doing so. Your photo does this justice by adding the shadow of each man to the back of the man in front and also having their shadows form a continuous line on the ground, because of the time of day at which you shot. It motivates to shoot a photo of Segal's San Francisco, wondering if I could find an angle and time of day where I would gain a better appreciation for it.

Fred you're most welcome. Let me add that I enjoy your comments and your most eloquent style of writing, it would seem you are more than just a casual observer of photography, you enjoy all the arts. Having looked at a recent posting on your page I was intrigued to read your and Lynns' dialogue about posting another artists work. Your explanation about how you add to the original work is inspiring me to show a few more from the images I took at Grounds for Sculpture. I hesitated for a long time with the dilemma of is this the right thing to do? My sharing it stems from a desire to share something I liked with others who might appreciate it. Thanks again Fred for the correspondence and time.

Best Regards,

Holger

 

 

 

 

 

 

Light and Line is quite appealing!

Thanks Tony, It's always good to hear from you and I see you are posting again. See you soon.

Holger

:---) 

Really like the lighting in this Holger

All my best,  Bill

Super light, effect and composure.

Chris thank you for the kind words, see you soon.

Drew, Bill my apologies for not having thanked you sooner, an oversight by me. I always appreciate hearing from both of you.

Holger