A PHOTOGRAPH by Sebastião Salgado, an important Brazilian photographer, was chosen as one of the 25 images that defi ne the modern era (starting in 1955), according to a list published by the American newspaper New York Times on June 3rd. The photo, titled Serra Pelada, is a 1986 record of workers in the Serra Pelada “garimpo” gold mine in Pará, a region that was the largest open-pit mining site in Brazil.

According to The New York Times, one of the crucial points of Salgado’s image is the story it portrayed. “One of the most striking aspects of Sebastião Salgado’s photographs of an openair gold mine in Brazil is the scale. Several thousand men — their bodies hunched and fragile — are rendered miniature against the backdrop of a massive pit in the earth,” said the newspaper.

Furthermore, the newspaper highlights how the photo also denounces the extreme work conditions in Serra Pelada during the so-called “gold rush”, when mining and searching for gold was one of the main economic activities.

The New York Times list also includes other important photographs, selected by a team of 25 experts and critics.

Who is Sebastião Salgado?

Sebastião Salgado is a Brazilian documentary photographer and photojournalist. The 80-year-old is known for capturing images that portray social, economic, and human issues. Salgado’s photos, which are always black and white, have been published in books and featured in various exhibitions around the world.

Glossary

“GARIMPO” (INFORMAL MINING): artisanal exploration and extraction of minerals from the soil. Many of these mines, such as those on indigenous lands, are not permitted by law. Also, not all mineral extraction is considered “garimpo” mining. There is also industrial mining, which uses specialized labor and machines. Using mIners, on the other hand, requires few machines and little infrastructure.

SOURCES: THE NEW YORK TIMES, FOLHA DE SÃO PAULO, AND ENCICLOPÉDIA ITAÚ CULTURAL.

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