Scanned from a slide by Adam Pape. Color corrected by Pat Cagney.

Fishing Scene

Artist W. Eugene Smith (1918-1978)

CultureAmerican

Date1972-1975

MediumGelatin silver print

DimensionsOverall, Image: 14 3/8 × 19 7/8 in. (36.5 × 50.5 cm)
Overall, Support: 16 × 20 1/16 in. (40.6 × 51 cm)
Overall, Mat: 24 1/16 × 30 1/16 in. (61.1 × 76.4 cm)

Credit LinePurchase, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Menschel

Object number81.152

Not on view

DescriptionThis is a gelatin silver print photograph.

Label TextW. Eugene Smith American (1918-1978) Fishing Scene, Minamata, Japan, 1972-75 Gelatin-silver print Purchase, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Menschel 81.152 One of the most important American photojournalists, W. Eugene Smith conducted his work under the principle "let truth be the prejudice." His photo-essays helped define the look of LIFE magazine in the 1940s and 1950s, and established a model for subsequent work in the essay form. Smith was compassionate toward his subjects and uncompromising about the use of his images, maintaining control over editing and layout of his stories. Fishing depicts two silhouetted Japanese fishermen hauling in their net at dawn with a solitary fish as the catch. At first, the image appears to be simply a tranquil fishing scene. But, a much different image soon emerges. The people in the town of Minamata subsisted on farming and fish taken from Minamata Bay. Tragically, the bay was contaminated with chemical manufacturing waste from a nearby factory. By way of the food chain, many of the people in Minamata had contracted methyl mercury poisoning. Many of those who ate contaminated fish from the bay experienced debilitating and often time fatal effects. The polluting company refused to acknowledge its responsibility to the afflicted, either in the form of compensation or by preventing further contamination. Smith and his half-Japanese wife lived in a dirt floor hut and ate contaminated fish while documenting the tragedy taking place in Minamata. His photographs publicized the disaster and helped the villagers win restitution from the polluting company. In 1981, Smith had a solo exhibition at the Chrysler. Three of his photographs are included in the Museum collection. Edited By: GLY Edited Date: 11/07/2003Exhibition History"The Photographs of W. Eugene Smith," The Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Virginia, July 9 - September 13, 1981; Joe and Emily Lowe Art Gallery, College of Visual & Performing Arts, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, September 27 - November 1, 1981 (copy of this print) "A History of Photography: 15 Years at the Chrysler Museum," The Chrysler Museum, Norfolk, VA; September 11, 1993-March 6, 1994. "Silver Images: The Photography Collection at 25," Alice R. and Sol B. Frank Photo Galleries, Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Va., November 5, 2003 - August 2004. Published ReferencesJeff Harrison, _Collecting with Vision: Treasures From the Chrysler Museum of Art_ (London: D. Giles Ltd., 2007), 118, fig. 142. ISBN: 978-0-940744-72-1