Walker Evans is one of the most influential figures in American Art, innovating street photography techniques and practicing an empatheic, humanist approach to capturing hardship and resilence. In 1935, he was hired by the New Deal's Federal Security Administration to photograph rural communities during the Great Depression. Taking a break from that department in 1936, Evans and writer James Agee went to rural Alabama on assigmnet from Fortune magazine. The resulting book, Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, contained photos that were to become Evan's signature series. Tenant Farmer's Wife, Alabama, 1936, is arguably the most famous from this series, featuring Allie Mae Burrroughs, age 27. The image portrays Burroughs with vulberability, strength, and individualism despite the uncertainty of her situation. Evan's images of America influence not only the future of photography but jounalism, film, and other arts as well.

Source: DMAC News May Jun Jul Aug