Shoemaker's Lunch

Photo League instructors encouraged their students to have a
distinct point of view, and to consider their own lived experiences when
photographing others. This philosophy encouraged a respect and empathy for all people,
and led some League members to photograph their own neighborhoods, cultures, and
communities. Bernard Cole’s photograph of a shoemaker taking a break from work
to enjoy lunch is one such example—before studying at the League and becoming a
professional photographer, Cole worked at a shoe factory and was a union
organizer for the United Shoe Workers.