Exposing Hidden Worlds: How Jacob Riis' Photos Became Tools for Social Reform

Focusing on the struggles of late 19th-century immigrants, this book highlights Jacob Riis, a Danish immigrant and pioneering photojournalist. His groundbreaking work, illustrated with poignant photographs, shed light on the harsh realities of slum life and aimed to inspire social reform. Riis's compelling images of the poor and homeless, with their direct gaze into the camera, powerfully conveyed their plight and sought to prompt governmental action to improve their living conditions. His influential book, How the Other Half Lives, became a bestseller and raised national awareness about poverty.