Photo Reveiw of Paul Strand

Christo with Thorns Is a picture portrait photo by Paul Strand take at some stage in his time in Mexico between 1933 and 1934. The photograph entails the image depicts the picture of Christ having thorns placed on his head. The lighting of the photograph is neutral with a clear background. Christ’s image is exhibited to be in ache with respect to his visual image. He has thorns on his head, he appears to have a scar on his right cheek and seem sorrowful from his facial expression. This image was taken in Mexican churches. There was a essential objective that sparked Paul Strand’s interest in the Christo with Thorns picture in a Mexican Church. The beginning of the 20th century in Mexican was characterized by religious conflict that existed between the Roman Catholics and the government. Following the Ayutia revolution, the government was mainly constituted by fierce anticlericalists and Freemasons. By 1917, the Mexican government implemented a constitution had a hostile approach toward the church. It outlawed all teachings by the church, provided the power to state in dealing with various church powers (Krippner et al 89). As a result, the Cristero War broke out as Catholic rebels fought against the governments intentions of prohibiting Christian religion in Mexico. During this war, Cristeros and Civilians were killed during the anticlerical raids while atheist people and teachers were killed for offering support to the government. By the end of the war in 1932, numerous people had died as well as priest which led to about 17 states without any priest. Paul Strand visit to Mexico immediately after the religious conflict facilitated him understand the Mexican culture and people beliefs. With respect to Newhall Nancy, Paul found the Mexican people unique with respect to their pride, grace and strength. Therefore, one could make an argument that the major reason that led to the caption of Jesus with Thorns by strand was as a symbolization of the Mexican people faith and believe in religion. Despite the government’s efforts of eradicating Christianity in the Mexico, the common people had been proud of their religion and had faith in Jesus Christ (Krippner et al 123). Consequently, Mexicans decided to protect tier religion and belief and agreed to undergo similar pain and earth as Jesus Christ to ensure that they fight for their religion. Most scholars describe individuals who died during the conflict as martyrs since they were killed due to religious purposes. Therefore, the Christo with Thorns photo was mainly taken to exhibit the faith, enduring strength and pride of the Mexican people. It made it evident that Mexican community reveled and believed in Jesus and was not ready to neither adopt any other religious ideology nor denounce Christianity to other secular ideologies. Additionally, the photo also depicts the readiness of the Mexican community to fight for their religion despite the painful consequences of such a war. Paul strand could also have captioned this image to send the message that the Mexican Christian community emulated Jesus Christ and were ready to undergo similar suffering as he did with an objective of liberating his followers. Men of Santa Ann A man of Santa Ann is a portrait photograph taken by Paul Strand in 1933. It entails two men one standing beside a door frame while the other sited behind a wall. The standing man has a hat and both men look an old and mature look with the sitting man looking older since he has some white hair on his moustache. The photo has much lighting which enables the audience understand the emotion and mood of the two me. With respect to their look and pose, they seem neither quite happy nor jovial. Additionally, the background of this photo is made up of a house wall in a wanting condition. The wall is rough, half painted with the painting wearing off. This could indicate a poor family which is thinking of a better future or a better life. Paul Strand’s Photo of the Men of Anna was an indication of the real living conditions in Mexico in the early 19th century. During these period, the Mexican community lived a poor life, the poverty levels had risen with respect to the wars different revolutions and wars that characterized the period. The beginning of the 19th century in Mexico was characterized by slow economic growth under the rule of Porfiriato. During this time, the slow economic growth was mainly caused by the adverse effect of Spanish rule as well as the unequal distribution of wealth. Additionally, the reaction towards the prohibition of the Christian religion was also another major factor that led to the poor economic progress (Krippner et al 283). Additionally, this period was characterized by various corruption cases which include election rigging as well as the censuring of the local media by government. Additionally, poverty and slow economic growth was also caused by the 1907 American Panic. America was a major trade partner with Mexico, hence the negative effect of the American economy panic affected the Mexican economy too since it could not supply more exports to A America.Likewise, the early 20th century in Mexico was characterized by a revolution that took place between 1910 and 1920. The revolution entails the social and political changes that took place during this era. The revolutions seek to eradicate various roles from the conservative forces and assign them to the government including religious roles. As a result, there were various wars which aimed to hinder this social and political transformation. Moreover, between 1913 and 1915, there was an counter revolution as well as a civil war. This was later followed by the Cristero War in which took place between 1926 and 1929. By the time Paul Strand got to Mexico; found the survivors of various wars an revolution that had taken place in the last three decades. Despite the factor that there was a ruling party that had been officially formed, the living conditions of the Mexican community was still wanting. Most people alive were sad, sorrowful and depressed with respect to the losses they incurred during the wars. Therefore, Paul’s photo, The Men of Anna, was a vivid expiation of the social and economic state of the Mexican community. He depicted the sorrow sadness and poverty levels that had hit the region which had mainly been caused by initial occurrences. A close analysis of the photo reveals that the two men were not happy, and seemed to be in deep thought and sadness. Additionally, from the background of the photo, one can tell that they did not have much nor were they rich with respect to the wearing off wall to their house. Works CitedTop of FormBottom of FormKrippner, James, Alfonso Morales, Katherine Ware, Leo T. Hurwitz, David A. Siqueiros, and Anthony Montoya. Paul Strand in Mexico. México, D.F.: Fundación Televisa, 2010. Print. Strand Paul, Christo with Thorns Strand Paul, Men of Santa Anna, Michoacan