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September 1937. "Lumberjack at the bar on Saturday night. Craigville, Minnesota." Photo by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size.
I nominate the title given to this photo as the "Most Clever" of the many Shorpy titles.
I enjoy coming to the site every couple weeks and reviewing old photos. Shorpy is a wonderful contribution to the internet.
Like previous commenters, this one stopped me in my tracks. What a intimate and revealing photograph, and what an incredible moment that was captured.
In a time when twitter posts about what is trending with a hashtag drive a newscycle, this photo, by comparison, arrests the mind of the viewer and depicts a shard of the man's soul.
Long time lurker here, but had to reg just to comment on this image; like others here this has haunted me. It is incredibly sad.
My photo class in college introduced me to the pics in The Family of Man - nothing in there was as profound as this.
Why hasn't this image captured all the available awards? Sarting with the Pulitzer & not stopping.
Although I have a professional printer which I use to print my art, I'm ordering a print as a Thank You for finding this image.
He has a job during the Great Depression, spotlessly clean hands, a full head of wavy hair and the friendship of a nice little cat. So there is hope for the lumberjack that he went on to enjoy better days.
This picture almost makes me cry. And I'm 65 years old.
So goes the story of a lumberjack who,
Brought his kitty into the bar bearing life's heavy load
Without a thought for himself, did with a sigh say,
"I'll have one for my baby, and one more for the road"
And I'm OK.
I sleep all night and I work all day.
I cut down trees. I skip and jump.
I like to press wild flowers.
On Wednesday I pet kitties
That hang around in bars.
Been there, done that. (several times but without the cat).
I'd like a "Catster", and for my little buddy, a "Hair of the Dog".
I would not be surprised if that man is me in a past life.
I've sat here staring at it for ten minutes, trying to come up with a backstory that isn't totally depressing and tearjerking, and utterly failed.
[Spilled milk? - Dave]
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