Coal-miners' houses without windows to the street, 1930's

German by birth, Bill Brandt vehemently identified
himself as British and lived most of his life in
London. Brandt started his career as an apprentice
of the American photographer Man Ray. Ray and
some of his contemporaries, such as André Kertéz
and Eugène Atget, highly influenced Brandt’s earlier
works. He is well-known for his portraits and his
inclusive documentary work.
During the late 1930’s, the photographer traveled to
the Durham Coalfields area, in Northern England,
where Coal Miners’ Houses was taken. This piece
is an example of Brandt’s audacity as a printer, the
‘noirish’ of his prints became his signature. Coal
Miners’ Houses shows Bill Brandt’s technical skills
and his ability to create visual narratives. His use of
contrast provides the print with a palpable texture;
on top of the image he is able to mimic dark smoke
as if it is actually coming out of the chimneys.
The dark quality of the photograph brings to the
viewers’ attention the building’s lack of windows
and the street’s poor lighting which affected the
lives of the locals.
—Vivian Zavataro