DeCordova Collects Photographs: Recent Acquisitions
Walker Evans
Walker Evans was one of the most important American photographers of the 20th century. Evans specialized in documenting life on and around the rural and urban streets of America. His work helped shape and define the American Scene movement of the 1930’s. American Scene photographers and artists were socially conscious, nationalistic and regionalistic. They attacked the bureaucratic systems they held responsible for the Great Depression and revealed bitter truths about the agricultural way of life. It was during the 1930’s while working as a photographer for the United States Farm Security Administration that Evans created some of his most enduring images. He was charged with recording the condition of the often destitute agrarian folk all over the country. But Evans’ oeuvre is not limited in scope to documentary photos of people. Torn Movie Poster reveals his interest in capturing the vernacular icons of society which represent its culture. Widely considered the straightest of the straight photographers, his photos are brutally direct, stripped of all superfluous detail no matter how pleasing. And yet, Evans’ photographs extend well beyond the documentary tradition he unwittingly helped create. The passion brought to his work transforms simple images and forms into eloquently complex and compelling metaphors and images. It is their simplicity perhaps, that elevates Evans’ subjects to such profound levels.
