Eugene Smith Social Statement

Eugene Smith is a famous American photojournalist known for his important work in developing the “editorial photo essay”. He is a great example of an artist using their work to make a social statement when looking at his photos from Minamata. Minamata disease is a neurological syndrome caused by mercury poisoning from a company’s chemical waste starting around 1930. Chisso Corporation’s industrial wastewater containing methyl mercury poisoned thousands- killing a large number of victims and leaving many others with deformed fetuses, blind children and the Minamata disease. Eugene smith created a photograph essay to bring attention to the disease and everyone effected by it. Although his stay in Minamata was only supposed to last 3 weeks, it ended up lasting 3 years after him and his partner stated that events from the disease kept occurring and they felt that they had a duty to keep following them. His work was incredibly important because of how much it led government officials to taking more action on this mercury outbreak. before this, the effects of these chemicals were ignored for a long time, however after, victims were actively being helped and recognized, as well as compensated by the Chisso Corp. The importance of Eugene Smith’s art from this photo essay went far past this time period to where even after his death, artists were inspired to continue this work and aid those still effected by this disease. This photoessay and legacy shows how his Art and thoughts have made a real and true change.