Jacob Riis and the slums of New York

Journalist and photographer Jacob Riis emigrated from Denmark to New York in 1870. He would become world famous for the photos he took in the slums of that city.

Gang in New York – Photo: Jacob Riis

At the end of the nineteenth century, America grew rapidly. In the cities, and certainly in New York, one skyscraper after another rose. Those who visited the city therefore usually looked up, full of amazement at the steel structures that were being built. However, New York also had another side. A bottom.

The city had to deal with a large influx of immigrants and many new Americans had a hard time. They were exploited by slum landlords and often lived in unhealthy apartments without any form of ventilation. In addition, many children could be found in the overcrowded city who did not have a home at all. They lived in gangs on the streets and survived by stealing food.

How the Other Half Lives

After having lived in poverty for several years, Jacob Riis got a job in 1873 at the Evening Sun. Here he qualified as a writer and taught himself to take pictures. Through his work for the newspaper, he heard more and more stories about life in the slums of New York. In 1888 he finally decided to quit his job and devote himself entirely to his book: How the Other Half Lives. In it he showed the Americans, in word and image, the harsh conditions under which many immigrants had to live.

Flash light powder

The born Dane was one of the first photographers to use flash powder. This was important because it also allowed him to shoot at night and in apartments without light.

Riis’s book was published in 1890 and contributed to measures being taken in America to improve the living conditions of immigrants. Indignant as he was about the living conditions of the poor immigrants, Riis continued to lecture for years after his appearance and published articles in newspapers.

~ Yuri Visser