Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Today I went to Ely to take a look at an exhibition of 1930's photographs by the american Walker Evans. I had not heard of him before, though he's probably really famous.I stopped on the way to take a digital photo of this house. It belonged to an old man who sold fire wood from the shed at the side. I bought a sack once, only to find that it contained large chunks of a solid mahogany door. I wondered whether he was actually dismantling his house bit by bit and selling it. I never had the heart to burn the wood.
Now the house is empty and has just been sold. Iwanted to get a picture of it before it is demolished to make way for an all-too-neat annoyance (as it undoubtably will be).
The exhibition was marvellous. The photographs portrayed the gritty reality of The Great Depression in glorious black and white. They have a stark impact which has not softened in the 70 years since they were taken.
I couldn't help doctoring my picture in an attempt to add some of the brooding mood of the Walker Evans photographs, hence the monotone version. Of course, it is a pale imitation, but today has made me think of taking more pictures to document the times. Many of the items and places in those 1930's photos have more interest to us because of their age, but would have been familiar and commonplace in their day. What would you think would fascinate people in 70 years time about us?
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This is a great post!!!! I know of the photos you speak of and the photographer...My parents grew up in those times in the dust bowl of the Great Plains....70 years from now my ancestors might say how paranoid society was...and fearful. What happened to the freedoms children once knew?...what's with all the security and cameras and searches and terror cops every 20 feet...were these people really living in a FREE democratic society?
I agree....photos from that bygone era are so interesting and Walker Evans was very good at capturing those times.
I enjoyed looking at all the photos you have on your blog. I'm always interested in old houses and buildings, especially ones in England.
Thank you for visiting my blog because that made it possible for me to find yours. I will return again.
I enjoyed looking at all the photos you have on your blog. I'm always interested in old houses and buildings, especially ones in England.
Thank you for visiting my blog because that made it possible for me to find yours. I will return again.
they are going to demolish this home? that is a crime :( - I often wonder if the modern monstrosities that are being built nowadays will still be standing in 100 years.
this home is gorgeous, just what I would love to live in in the UK - if I ever had the chance.
and yes do start taking more pictures - before the buildings are all gone...
this home is gorgeous, just what I would love to live in in the UK - if I ever had the chance.
and yes do start taking more pictures - before the buildings are all gone...
That is such a good idea. I often think that the best reason for keeping a blog is for posterity - a record of how we all are. Astonishing how changing that picture to monochrome gave a completely different impression. To me it became older, and, very oddly, more run down.
I love that idea of a man slowly clearing his house and selling it as firewood. I think that one's going to haunt me.
I love that idea of a man slowly clearing his house and selling it as firewood. I think that one's going to haunt me.
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: 7:53 AM GMT+1
: 7:53 AM GMT+1
Photographs are one of the few 'reliable' historical sources that can illustrate to others just how life once was. And the saying "a picture is worth a thousand words" couldn't be truer. Interesting to not only adults, but children too - and evoking such powerful emotions in all.
Perhaps our blogs too will serve to illustrate to future generations how we lived.
You do live in a rather beautiful place. Mind you, there is very little of this wonderous land that isn't beautiful... Are you close to Peterborough? I used to adore going there on the train :)
Perhaps our blogs too will serve to illustrate to future generations how we lived.
You do live in a rather beautiful place. Mind you, there is very little of this wonderous land that isn't beautiful... Are you close to Peterborough? I used to adore going there on the train :)
This is such a pretty house, Jeremy, even clothed as it is now in its shabby neglect. I wish I could have been the one to purchase it and then bring it back to life.
And what would people think of us 70 years down the road - well, with before and after photos and the loss of so much beauty and history, I would hope they would think of us as "What WERE they thinking".
And what would people think of us 70 years down the road - well, with before and after photos and the loss of so much beauty and history, I would hope they would think of us as "What WERE they thinking".
Thank you for all these well considered comments. Lots of food for thought. I will keep an eye on this old house, too.
I am always captivated by old homes such as this...to think about what it must have been like as brand new. Thinking about the people who lived there and their lives. It's such a terrible shame that people tear down rather than rennovate. How I long to go back to England for a visit and take loads of pictures of just this type of thing. thank you for sharing yours.
Kansasrose- I think you may be right about our descendants, but I wouldn't want to live 70 years ago either.
Janet- His photos really struck me. I'm glad you like the blog.
Miss*r- I'm not sure if they will demolish that house, but it's in such a state and on such a prime piece of land that I'd be amazed if they didn't.
Clare- I'll definitely try to keep posterity in mind from now on!
When you do turn the tale of the man who dismantled his house into a best selling book, please remember my percentage.
Vintagepretty- Do you think these blogs will be recorded anywhere, or will they disappear into the ether?
We live near Ely, which isn't far from Peterborough (which also has a gothic cathedral, of course).
Annie- You are right, what ARE we thinking? Even the people who are considered sane these days don't seem to be to me.
Lisa- You need to hurry! A lot of places are either disappearing or being sanitized.
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Janet- His photos really struck me. I'm glad you like the blog.
Miss*r- I'm not sure if they will demolish that house, but it's in such a state and on such a prime piece of land that I'd be amazed if they didn't.
Clare- I'll definitely try to keep posterity in mind from now on!
When you do turn the tale of the man who dismantled his house into a best selling book, please remember my percentage.
Vintagepretty- Do you think these blogs will be recorded anywhere, or will they disappear into the ether?
We live near Ely, which isn't far from Peterborough (which also has a gothic cathedral, of course).
Annie- You are right, what ARE we thinking? Even the people who are considered sane these days don't seem to be to me.
Lisa- You need to hurry! A lot of places are either disappearing or being sanitized.
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