Many people suffered and died due to the stock market crash in October 1929. It started in the U.S. The stock market went down 20% of its value. Money, food and jobs was scarce throughout the land. Many people went hungry and they suffered. Food and soup lines were open to feed the poor and hungry people every where.
The US Government even created a program, called, The Works Progress Administration or WPA. This WPA program helped created jobs to many people. A part of this federal program was the arts projects. Many artist was hired to create many painted art work on public places and building, even sculptures were created. Artist even painted scene of our great Alaskan wilderness. It can all be found in Anchorage museums. Many musicians and other were hired to play their instruments in theaters throughout the counties.
My Native people, including my great parents and grand parents lived through during the great depression here in the Yukon Flats. Many of my relatives lived a nomadic life. They all depend greatly from the land and rivers, it all provide them with animals, fishes, birds, berries, wood and timber. Both men and women hunted for moose, caribou, small games, ducks, geese, fish. The women tanned and sewed all the moose, caribou, beaver hides into parkas, pants, boots, hats and mitts. They all ate the animals, fish and birds they caught and they shared their resources with anyone who maybe in need. They did not waste anything. My Native people did rely on items from Fort Yukon and Beaver trading post. They traded their furs for guns, shells, matches, cloths, oil, dry food items. They remembered going to Fort Yukon trading post with dog teams to trade with their animal fur that they trapped. At times, there were no items they needed at the store. Yet my people made it through the great depression.
Tenement Flats, Artist Millard Sheets, oil on canvas, 1933-1934
This grand painting shows how life was during the great depression. This is the bunker hill neighborhood downtown, Los Angles, California. This painting is nicely painted as it shows how poor the people were as they are living through hard times. It shows how the women are washing their clothes and they are hanging it outside to dry. The women are working together as their children are playing out side. The men may be out searching for jobs or they may be getting food at the soup and bread line for their families. The people at the time are doing the best they can to make a living through hard times, (VM, SZ).
The painting looks like it is crowded and hardly any space. The shapes and lines of the building are painted perfectly. It really shows what is going on in the scene. The painting and colors are nicely done. I like the paining, but I do not like the situation they are in. The people are work hard especially when life is tough and challenging.
Cite this page as: Dr. Virginia Mecklenburg, Smithsonian American Art Museum and Dr. Steven Zucker, "Millard Sheets, Tenement Flats," in Smarthistory, October 1, 2019, accessed November 2, 2024, https://smarthistory.org/millard-sheets-tenement-flats/.
Prodigal son
Artist: Thomas Hart Benton, 1939
Oil and Tempera on panel.
This great painting of the, Prodigal son, is very different from the biblical story of the prodigal son, which is found in the Bible, Luke 15: 11-32. Benton went to New York City to get rich when he came back home to Missouri to teach art, he found his house in a dismayed, poor shape and very runned down. The painting and drawing shows that the house was abandoned and in shamble for a long time and the bones of a cow nearby also show that. The lines and shapes of the house and yard looks depressing and it is well drawn. The drawing of Benton expression show that he looked shocked and dismayed. The painting or drawing really shows adds to this sad situation of Benton's house. The back ground is painted dark, grey, light and shadows, showing the bleak situation. Could the great depression caused this? Nearby people may have gotten the house materials for their own use and to survive, due to the hard times during the depression. Money lost its value, food and jobs were scarce. Hopefully, Benton worked it out. Maybe he builded a new house or he may went back to the city to find a job. Benton. I wonder what ever happened to him. Poor Benton. The picture is greatly drawn but the situation was bleak.
Cite: A blog by Dr. David B. Gowler (Oxford College of Emory University) about the reception history of the parables of Jesus. It includes reflections on issues from three of my books on the parables: What are They Saying about the Parables? (Paulist), The Parables after Jesus (Baylor), Howard Thurman: Sermons on the Parables (Orbis).
“The Belated Return of the ‘Son’”: Thomas Hart Benton’s Prodigal Son
Migrant Mother
Artist- Dorothea Lange
1936
Printed Black and white photograph
Written by Kris Belden-Adems
Nipomo, California
This is a photograph of a poor migrant mother, Florence Owers Thomson. This photo was taken at a migrant camp during the great depression in 1936. The photo show that Florence is holding three of her children. They were all living in a make shift tent. The photo shows that Florence looks worried and concerned, maybe she is thinking of how she is going to feed her seven children during this time of hardship and scarcity and she is a poor widow.
The photograph does not shows the background, the lines and shapes shows three hungry children, their worn out, tired mother, she is the focus of this dismaying photograph. Yet, the picture shows Florence expression looks strong and hopeful. Even when this photograph is black and white, it still shows a strong, resilience woman, especially during the tragic great depression.
Through this power photograph, I see many people who have never gave up, they were strong willed, hard workers, strong belief in God, especially through poverty and hard ship, this too is also part of life. Personally, it is heart breaking to see and read about human suffering, this too is a part of the world we live in. This powerful photograph shows that.
Millard Sheets, Tenement Flats, 1933–34, oil on canvas, 102.1 x 127.6 cm (Smithsonian American Art Museum). A conversation with Dr. Virginia Mecklenburg, Chief Curator, Smithsonian American Art Museum and Dr. Steven Zucker
I find the works presented compelling in their stark portrayal of the Great Depression, particularly how they capture the resilience and struggles of everyday people. The theme of hardship and survival resonates deeply, as artists like Millard Sheets and Dorothea Lange convey despair and hope through their depictions of communal life and individual perseverance. While the bleakness of these situations can be disheartening, it is also a testament to the strength of the human spirit during challenging times. These artworks serve as crucial historical documentation, reminding us of the collective experiences that shape societal narratives. Overall, they highlight the impact of economic hardship and celebrate the courage and resourcefulness of those who endured it.
During this era, of The great Dression, my Athabascan people, my relatives faced starvations at times. At times, the caribou herd that they heavily relied on, would go on a different route. So my relatives had no caribou meat for a long time. They relied on fish and small game.They rationed what little dried meat and fish they had, as they moved from place to place. The men went hunting everyday. At time they kill a lot of caribou and had a lot of food. This is how people relied on the land for animals, fish and birds. Life was hard, that my family members do not want to talk about it, but they never gave up. This is how they made it through the Great Depression era. My people never gave up with the help of God.
This is my favorite era in history! I’m really glad you shared a bit about your family’s history in the Yukon. It must have been such a struggle!
Tenement Flats is captivating. Like you, I appreciate the picture even though it depicts a difficult time. The diagonal angles of the stairs and balcony create a sense of busy chaos, making the space feel full and crowded. I also like the details of daily life portrayed in the image, with women and children busy at work and play, and laundry hanging in every available space.
Benton’s work is intriguing, though I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it. There are aspects I enjoy, such as the curved lines and the caricatures. The droopy lines and the black-and-white lithograph, combined with the desolate scene that represents a discouraging welcome home, really contribute to the mood. However, overall, his work doesn’t fully resonate with me. Benton was an interesting person, known for being outspoken about his views, which ultimately led to his ostracism later in life. I can’t help but wonder if the Prodigal Son image reflects his experience: returning home with hopes of joyful memories and comfort, only to find that depression and loneliness awaited him instead.
I appreciate your perspective on Lange’s photograph. It captures such a hard time for everyone during the Great Depression! I love that you noticed not just her worry and stress, but also her strength and resilience in simply getting through this difficult period. Thanks for sharing!
Shroozhri' Paul Williams Jr oozhrii. Tsee Due , Alaska gwats'an ihxii. Dinjii Zhuh k'yaa geech'axtanl. UAF BA hoihihdal eenjit geegwal'ee. Shiginjik Xyaa chil'ee. Naagaii ts'a' ch'aadhah k'axkaii, ts'a' o'ok nan kat neehihdii geet'ihdhan. K'eegwadhat injeejihyit. My name is Paul Williams Jr. I am from Beaver, Alaska. I teach my Native Gwich'in Dene' language at the school here. I am working to get my BA in Alaska Native Studies. My Native language is an art form to me. I speak and sing in my Native language. I sew beautiful Athabaskan beadwork and skin sew as an art. I enjoy going out on the land. I am a Christian, I enjoy search for beadwork on line. at the UAF museum, I also enjoy going to other artist and talk and see their art beadwork. A picture of my art.
Shroozhri' Paul Williams Jr oozhrii. Tsee Due , Alaska gwats'an ihxii. Dinjii Zhuh k'yaa geech'axtanl. UAF BA hoihihdal eenjit geegwal'ee. Shiginjik Xyaa chil'ee. Naagaii ts'a' ch'aadhah k'axkaii, ts'a' o'ok nan kat neehihdii geet'ihdhan. K'eegwadhat injeejihyit. My name is Paul Williams Jr. I am from Beaver, Alaska. I teach my Native Gwich'in Dene' language at the school here. I am working to get my BA in Alaska Native Studies. My Native language is an art form to me. I speak and sing in my Native language. I sew beautiful Athabaskan beadwork and skin sew as an art. I enjoy going out on the land. I am a Christian, I enjoy search for beadwork on line. at the UAF museum, I also enjoy going to other artist and talk and see their art beadwork. A picture of my art. Shroozhri' Paul Williams Jr oozhrii. Tsee Due , Alaska gwats'an ihxii. Dinjii Zhuh k'yaa geech'axtanl. UAF BA hoihihdal eenjit geegwal'...
I find the works presented compelling in their stark portrayal of the Great Depression, particularly how they capture the resilience and struggles of everyday people. The theme of hardship and survival resonates deeply, as artists like Millard Sheets and Dorothea Lange convey despair and hope through their depictions of communal life and individual perseverance. While the bleakness of these situations can be disheartening, it is also a testament to the strength of the human spirit during challenging times. These artworks serve as crucial historical documentation, reminding us of the collective experiences that shape societal narratives. Overall, they highlight the impact of economic hardship and celebrate the courage and resourcefulness of those who endured it.
ReplyDeleteDuring this era, of The great Dression, my Athabascan people, my relatives faced starvations at times. At times, the caribou herd that they heavily relied on, would go on a different route. So my relatives had no caribou meat for a long time. They relied on fish and small game.They rationed what little dried meat and fish they had, as they moved from place to place. The men went hunting everyday. At time they kill a lot of caribou and had a lot of food. This is how people relied on the land for animals, fish and birds. Life was hard, that my family members do not want to talk about it, but they never gave up. This is how they made it through the Great Depression era. My people never gave up with the help of God.
ReplyDeleteThis is my favorite era in history! I’m really glad you shared a bit about your family’s history in the Yukon. It must have been such a struggle!
ReplyDeleteTenement Flats is captivating. Like you, I appreciate the picture even though it depicts a difficult time. The diagonal angles of the stairs and balcony create a sense of busy chaos, making the space feel full and crowded. I also like the details of daily life portrayed in the image, with women and children busy at work and play, and laundry hanging in every available space.
Benton’s work is intriguing, though I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it. There are aspects I enjoy, such as the curved lines and the caricatures. The droopy lines and the black-and-white lithograph, combined with the desolate scene that represents a discouraging welcome home, really contribute to the mood. However, overall, his work doesn’t fully resonate with me. Benton was an interesting person, known for being outspoken about his views, which ultimately led to his ostracism later in life. I can’t help but wonder if the Prodigal Son image reflects his experience: returning home with hopes of joyful memories and comfort, only to find that depression and loneliness awaited him instead.
I appreciate your perspective on Lange’s photograph. It captures such a hard time for everyone during the Great Depression! I love that you noticed not just her worry and stress, but also her strength and resilience in simply getting through this difficult period.
Thanks for sharing!