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Summer 1938. "Son of Virgil Thaxton, farmer, in Thaxton farmhouse near Mechanicsburg, Ohio." 35mm nitrate negative by Ben Shahn. View full size.
Maybe the roses aren't real. I remember that back in the 1950's we made roses and other flowers out of crepe paper. My mother was very good at it and the flowers looked real. It was fun to help her with the petals as the crepe paper was stretched out with your fingers after it was cut into a petal shape. Sometimes the "flowers" were dipped in wax to give them a sheen.
This ia a wonderful photo! Off-balance in a technical way, or not, but it conveys so much.
composition.
What a wonderful photograph.
All the Ben Shahn pix are in this distinctive wide-screen aspect ratio. Was this the format the pix were shot in? Did he purposely crop them this way afterwards?
Seems unusual for the era, but maybe it is just my film-school blinders.
[This uncropped photo shows standard 35mm roll film proportions. - Dave]
What a beautiful photograph, and an extraordinarily modern composition (to my amateur eyes).
He's a cute kid; he would be about 81 or 82 now. The picture of Jesus is fitting, with Lent beginning tomorrow.
What an impressive photo. I am struck by it's simplicity and efficient use of the rule of thirds.
Looks like a nice radio just behind the young lad.
[Let's not forget Jesus. - Dave]
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