OstLicht Prisma – The Monthly Newsletter. Just as a prism refracts light into its colors, we illuminate photography in all its facets – from historical developments and artistic movements to contemporary trends.
For May 1st, International Workers’ Day, this edition of Prisma is dedicated to the theme of labour – not in the economic sense, but in the photographic: as physical gesture, as social structure, as a quiet companion in everyday life.
This day traces back to the workers’ movements of the late 19th century, when people around the world began demanding better working conditions, regulated hours, and social rights. At a time when twelve- to sixteen-hour workdays were the norm, courageous individuals stood up for justice, fairness, and dignity in the workplace. Their struggle laid the foundation for many of the rights we now take for granted: the eight-hour day, paid holidays, social protection, and workplace safety.
The selection presented here ranges from scenes of heavy factory labour to moments of artistic creation – such as Andy Warhol in his Silver Factory, captured by Eve Arnold, or Franz Ringel carrying his paintings through the studio, documented by Cora Pongracz. Alongside these, images of fruit vendors and newsstands reveal the subtle poetry of everyday routines.
These photographs not only invite contemplation, but also reflection – on the place of work in our present time, and on what remains when it comes to a halt.
