I actually know a bit of backstory about this photo - it was a series on child labor in the south, and these are photos of oyster shuckers for the Maggioni Canning Co. around 1911.
I’m assuming shucking oysters are rough on the hands, so it could be wounds, but it also looks like crusted-on dirt, so I’m not sure.
Here’s another photo where you can see their hands a bit better:
I just wanted to add about the stares. Photos back then required the target to be very still ao they are just probably trying their best to keep still.
Most photos of children failed because they moved. These were very still, hence the tension in their eyes, or just a lucky shot. Anyways, photos from way back always look like death for this reason.
I actually know a bit of backstory about this photo - it was a series on child labor in the south, and these are photos of oyster shuckers for the Maggioni Canning Co. around 1911.
I’m assuming shucking oysters are rough on the hands, so it could be wounds, but it also looks like crusted-on dirt, so I’m not sure.
Here’s another photo where you can see their hands a bit better:
And here’s the original untouched photo:
Courtesy of the Library of Congress archives
I just wanted to add about the stares. Photos back then required the target to be very still ao they are just probably trying their best to keep still.
Most photos of children failed because they moved. These were very still, hence the tension in their eyes, or just a lucky shot. Anyways, photos from way back always look like death for this reason.
This is a hilarious photo of they weren’t in such conditions.
Thank you for the context and source! Definitely mud and dirt…