“The Spinner” is a photograph by W. Eugene Smith, taken in the year 1950. This black and white image captures the essence of traditional textile work, showcasing a focused spinner at the craft.
In the photograph, you see a woman seated in the foreground with her lips pursed, spinning thread using a spindle. She is entirely absorbed in her activity, demonstrating a sense of skill and tradition. Another woman appears in the background, also engaged in a similar activity, albeit slightly out of focus which emphasizes the concentration of the woman in front. Both women are dressed in what appear to be traditional attire. The setting suggests a rustic environment, possibly a village, with elements such as a rough wall and a large woven basket nearby, adding to the atmosphere of craft and manual labor rooted in cultural practices. The lighting casts deep contrasts, highlighting the textures of the women’s clothing, the spun thread, and their working environment, all combining to create a vivid snapshot of a timeless human endeavor.