jacob riis

Exhibition Overview

  • The video shows the construction of the exhibition "Revealing How the Other Half Lives" at the Library of Congress.

  • The exhibit is located in the Thomas Jefferson Building.

  • Focuses on the life of Jacob Riis, a Danish-born journalist, social reformer, and photographer.

Key Photographs

  • Bandit's Roost

    • Perhaps Riis's most famous photograph.

    • Depicts Italian tufts wearing bowler hats in the Mulberry Bend area near Baxter Street.

    • Mulberry Bend became a significant focus for Riis in urban reform efforts.

    • Riis worked with municipal authorities for its demolition, replacing it with a park, which is also featured in the exhibit.

  • Artistic Representation

    • Riis described himself as a "photographer after fashion," indicating he did not see himself as a traditional photographer.

    • He recorded photographs for less than ten years, capturing about 300 images, a third of which were family snapshots or non-historically significant.

    • The iconic nature of "Bandit's Roost" was later echoed in Martin Scorsese's film "Gangs of New York."

Use of Flash Photography

  • Initial Inspiration:

    • In 1887, Riis learned about a new flash powder technology that could illuminate dark environments.

    • He collaborated with two amateur photographers interested in flash photography.

  • Bandit's Roost

    • The image was taken using a stereoscopic camera, which captures two images to create a three-dimensional effect.

    • The left side of the photograph features the well-known figures in the scene.

  • 5¢ a Spot

    • This photograph shows individuals paying for illegal temporary lodging in a tenement. Prices were 5¢ for those on the floor and 7¢ for those on shelves due to New York law requiring independent beds.

    • Riis himself captured this image, alongside sanitary police raiding the illegal lodging house.

    • The photograph depicts the stark conditions faced by people seeking shelter, some awoken mid-sleep, capturing their horrified expressions due to the abrupt entry and flash.

Critical Reception

  • Impact and Criticism

    • Riis aimed to raise awareness and provoke action from the authorities about the inhumane conditions depicted.

    • His use of flash photography has been criticized for "victimizing" subjects, as he entered unconsenting spaces, causing panic and distress among individuals in the images.

    • These modern critiques underscore ongoing ethical discussions about representation and consent in documentary photography.