In the early 1900’s, the citizens of New York City found themselves in a situation where they were running out of space in key areas of the city. In accordance with the classic American pioneering mindset, we decided to look to the skies instead of the streets for a solution. In this pivotal period for American ingenuity, the progress and perseverance of the citizens of the country could be no better represented than by the construction workers of the time. These were men that worked hundreds of feet above the ground on steel girders no bigger than a foot wide. No harness, no safety net, no second chance. The composition of this photo is iconic and it generates an emotional response of pride and resilience. The photo below clearly illustrates the, grit, ingenuity and drive of the American spirit. 

When analyzing this photo, one is instantly struck with a sense of nostalgia due to the black and white coloring. Black and white photographs signify a clear distinction in history, a landmark where one can discern that life was obviously much different during the time of the photo opposed to the here and now. In the time where this photo was taken, (1931) life certainly was quite different, the United States was coming off a two-decade stint of prosperity and excess due to the amount of construction and investment flowing in to major cities. This pivotal time period in America is perfectly characterized by the coloration. The black and white color scheme in this photo is reminiscent of a time where people acted and lived in a very black and white manner. There were more spoken and unspoken rules regarding etiquette and there was less technology to rely on for help. People of this time period had a brute sense of determination to them. The way that this photo is colored evokes an emotional response synonymous with hardworking pioneers, forging a path. A path in a world we can only imagine and never fully understand. This photo generates a sense of nostalgic pride for its viewers. It is reminiscent of a time period full of people that worked very hard for a clear goal that they wanted to achieve, constructing the America we know today. The black and white coloring in this photo draws on the sentimental feelings associated with the conception of America. A time where everyone was full of spirt and devoted to the success of the nation.

Another aspect of the photo that contributes to its theme of generating pride in America is the way the lines of the photo are oriented and the direction that they pull your eyes. In the foreground of the photo, there are numerous rigid steel girders. These girders stand blatantly in the middle of the photo, contrasting all of the buildings of the city scape because the beams are situated in a horizontal fashion and the buildings are fashioned vertically. These girders develop a firm rigid sense to the photo, however, they are completely juxtaposed by the collection of the three nonchalant workers standing on them. The girders stand erect in defiance of the large city scape background and the workers undermine their presence by standing atop them and working in an aloof yet focused manner. This representation of the workers disrupting the clear horizontal divisions of the photo symbolize the resilience of the American spirit. All throughout history, America has been a country that is known for trailblazing and going where no man has gone before. Whether it be Alaska or the moon, American’s have prided themselves in being brave adventures who have never shied from going against the grain. The way these three workers in the photo contrast the clear lines of the foreground demonstrates how the strength of the American spirit knows no bounds.

The way the foreground and background of the photo is situated also helps to demonstrate the main theme. In the background of this photo, there is a large view of the New York City sky line. The skyline is an incredible testament to the ability of man. The overwhelming size and grandeur of New York City makes it easy to forget that all of the buildings were built by people. Also, a large majority of these buildings were built in a time period with significantly less technology than today. That is why this skyline sets an ideal stage for the three men suspended above the earth working in this photo. Behind these men, stands a striking expanse of the goal they set to achieve. The buildings in the background stand to represent a benchmark of success that these men are working for. The buildings symbolize the people that have come before them and the work that they devoted to creating something incredible. The foreground and background of this photo represent the perseverance and drive of the American spirit. With hard work and determination, anything is possible. The men in the foreground of this photo may seem insignificant in comparison to overwhelming size and stature of New York City however, that is what the composition of the city and the country is at its core. Our nation is defined by people not things. People that have the determination and stamina to do what needs to be done. People who aren’t afraid to be suspended hundreds of feet above the ground and work to build our nation. 

America has always been a country that goes the extra mile and works incredibly hard to create and advance. This photo of three men constructing a sky scraper aids to the vision that all our country assimilates with. Hard work pays off. That ideal is exactly what the American spirit is all about. This photograph may be from a different time period but the patriotic themes it conveys are timeless. To this day, Americans can take pride in the work of those who came before them. The way the photo is composed demonstrates a common theme. The nostalgic color scheme, line structure, and foreground/background configuration all lend to the ideal that the American spirit is, at its core, formed by grit, ingenuity, drive and perseverance.
