Week 49 - 2019
Lewis Hine, Celia Anzalone, December 1911. Belongs to the Preus Museum Collection
A virtue of necessity
Now before Christmas, there may be someone sitting with some nice crafts to be wrapped up nicely and given away to a hopefully grateful recipient. This picture is also from a needlework effort in December, but where there is needlework in the literal sense of the word. In order to capitalize on the family income, many were engaged in the home industry. Celia Anzalone was photographed by Lewis Hine as she crocheted lace for a nearby textile factory.
It was women in particular who did their homework, and often women in difficult social conditions. They had long working days and got very poorly paid for their products. Lewis Hine was one of those who fought for justice for the workers using the camera and pen. In this way he could tell the world how it was done in the factories and in the homes.