Russell Lee is one of the most important photographers of the 20th century in America. He is known for his documentary photographs that document rural poverty during the Great Depression and the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. After the war , he also documented communities and cultures across America, leaving behind works that capture their diversity. By depicting the reality of society as it is, Lee's photographs had the power to evoke empathy and raise awareness of social issues.

Russell Lee Biography

• Born July 21, 1903 in Ottawa, Illinois, USA
• In the 1930s, he worked as a chemical engineer, but decided to become a painter and studied painting.
• In 1936, he began his career as a photographer by participating in a Farm Security Administration (FSA) project.
• Documenting Japanese American Internment Camps in 1942
• After the war, he photographed communities and cultures across America.
• Died August 28, 1986 in Austin, Texas (age 83)

Representative works

• "Pie Town, New Mexico" series (1940)
• Manzanar Relocation Center series (1942)
• San Augustine, Texas series (1973)

Lee's style and achievements

Lee's photographs are characterized by a deep empathy for the people and landscapes he photographs, and a desire to record social realities as they are. He captured people in difficult social situations with a warm and compassionate eye, such as rural poverty during the Great Depression and the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II .

Lee's work is highly regarded not only for its value as a documentary photograph but also as a work of art. His work not only records American society and culture, but also depicts universal humanity, inspiring many people throughout the ages.

Lee is a photographer who has used his photographs to raise awareness of social issues and change people's consciousness. His work can also give us today a glimpse into the reality of society and hints for building a better future.