W. Eugene Smith, “Tomoko Uemura in Her Bath”, 1971, Part of the Minamata Series 1971-1975

• After the second world war, The Chissa Group built a factory by the fishing port.• 7 years later this leaked mercury into the waters, polluting the fish.• This affected the future generation of people who ate the fish, or had contact with

the water. • This later became known as ‘the Minamata Disease’ a disease of the nervous system.

• Eugene, being popular in Japan at the time was asked by the Victims defense committee to document the early stages of the disease becoming known, and the economical effects.

• The collection tells a story through the development of the crisis.• It not only shows the physical effects, but reflects on the economical and emotional side

to the pollution.

• This was one of the most famous images from the series of a mother and child in the bath.

• The image shows the clearly disfigured child, and mother caring for her in the bath. There is a simple setting and minimal surroundings

• This allows the viewer to focus on the relationship an connection between the two subjects, and the social and cultural issues surrounding them.

• The dramatic lighting works with the minimal setting to highlight the pair and the emotional effects of the events.

• The lighting firstly draws our attention to the connection between the two, then secondly brings subtle attention to the disfigurement.

• The positioning of the two shows the mother holding her child almost like a new born, even though the child is considerably older, and the eldest of 6 siblings.

• This cradling action instantly shows the unconditional love for the child, combined with her gaze looking straight into the child’s eyes.

• The child however resembles that of a lifeless body, the eyes are rolled back and the body is in need of support from the mother.

• This image came to mind when thinking about the idea of the child’s body being lifeless, yet the mother positioned in a way that shows unconditional love.

• The same position is shown with Mary cradling her dead son Jesus. The position can be read universally within different cultures.