The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of December 19, 2025
Shoeshine Man, New York City
1937
(American, 1915–1985)
Image: 30.8 x 22.8 cm (12 1/8 x 9 in.); Paper: 35.7 x 27.7 cm (14 1/16 x 10 7/8 in.)
Gift of Alan and Monah L. Gettner 2002.82.5
Location: Not on view
Description
Rothstein worked for the Photo Unit of the Resettlement Administration, a federal agency later known as the Farm Security Administration. The agency was created to help fight rural poverty, but its small band of socially concerned photographers crisscrossed the country depicting the suffering of rural and urban populations. Their pictures were used to generate support for government aid programs. Shoeshine stands required little capital investment, making them good businesses for hard times, as long as there were enough affluent people to support the endeavor. This worker sits, ready to seize the opportunity (as mentioned in the sign above him) to serve a customer.- From Riches to Rags: American Photography in the Depression. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (August 13-December 31, 2017).
- {{cite web|title=Shoeshine Man, New York City|url=false|author=Arthur Rothstein|year=1937|access-date=19 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2002.82.5