This photograph, taken by W. Eugene Smith, is meant to draw attention to Minamata disease. A possible social statement that Smith is trying to get across through this photograph is the importance of understanding how serious this disease is and to be grateful for good health. She displays this by photographing a very serious case of this disease, one in which struggle and pain has clearly been present, the opposite of good health. This disease is the result of mercury poisoning which prompted many severe complications and took many lives. Many women with this disease would give birth to children with physical abnormalities or even blindness. As I examine the photo above I can see a woman, Ryoko Uemura, cradling her daughter, Tomoko, in a bath. Tomoko was poisoned before birth and is suffering from major deformities. Analyzing this photo has drawn me to the conclusion that this disease created a lot of suffering for not only those directly effected, but also for the family and friends of these people. I make this assumption based off of the facial expression of Ryoko and the darkness that surrounds her and her daughter. Although Ryoko’s face displays a compassionate expression, possibly because she is at peace with her daughters deformities, she also seems as if she is struggling with it. Furthermore, the black and white composition of the photo adds a very somber tone. Also, the lighting in the photo seems to directly highlight some of the daughters features, which I believe is meant to draw the attention the severity of her case. Lastly, the fact that Ryoko is physically holding her daughter can also symbolize how much care people with Minamata disease required.
Here is the citation: Smith, W. E. (1971). Tomoko Uemura in Her Bath [Photograph].