The Photographs of Carl Mydans: The Library of Congress

Following on from the publication of the first six titles featuring The Library of Congress’ internationally renowned collection of Farm Security Administration (FSA) and Office of War Information (OWI) photographs, the ‘Fields of Vision’ series continues with images showcasing the work of Arthur Rothstein, Gordon Parks and Carl Mydans. Providing a unique view of American life during the Great Depression and Second World War, each ‘Fields of Vision’ volume includes an introduction to the life of the photographer by a leading author or journalist, and 50 evocative images selected from their work. Transporting the viewer to American homes, farms and streets in the 1930s and 1940s, they also offer a glimpse of a new narrative and intimate style that was later to blossom on the pages of ‘LOOK’ and ‘LIFE’ magazines. For many Americans of the pre-television age, the diversity and complexity of their country was defined by the lenses of these men and women. Carl Mydans was born in Boston in 1907 and earned a degree in journalism from Boston University in 1930. In 1935 he joined the Resettlement Administration (which became the FSA) as a photographer. Mydans traveled in the South, documenting agricultural workers and rural poverty, and toured New England towns hard-hit by the Depression. His work was distinguished by his ability to tell an entire story in a single image. After sixteen months with the government, Mydans left to work at ‘LIFE’ magazine, where he stayed until the magazine closed in the early 1970s. He died in 2004.