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W. Eugene Smith — Dance of the Flaming Coke, Pittsburgh
W. Eugene Smith

Dance of the Flaming Coke, Pittsburgh

A dramatic gelatin silver print by W. Eugene Smith capturing the intense, almost mythological spectacle of molten coke erupting in cascading streams of fire and light at a Pittsburgh steel mill. Smith's masterful use of contrast transforms an industrial process into a visually arresting dance of luminous flames against deep, velvety darkness. The image reflects Smith's signature humanist approach, elevating the raw power of labor and industry into something both sublime and otherworldly.

Medium
Gelatin silver print.

🔨 Auction Lot

The Odyssey of Collecting: Photographs from Joy of Giving Something Foundation, Part 2

April 4, 2017

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About this work

W. Eugene Smith, Dance of the Flaming Coke, Pittsburgh

A dramatic gelatin silver print by W. Eugene Smith capturing the intense, almost mythological spectacle of molten coke erupting in cascading streams of fire and light at a Pittsburgh steel mill. Smith's masterful use of contrast transforms an industrial process into a visually arresting dance of luminous flames against deep, velvety darkness. The image reflects Smith's signature humanist approach, elevating the raw power of labor and industry into something both sublime and otherworldly.

Medium
Gelatin silver print.
Seen at
Phillips, New York, London, Hong Kong

Related themes

Dark Mood, Mid Century Modern, Male Artist, Documentary Photography, Gelatin Silver Print, American Photographer, Square Format, Master Photographer, Photojournalism, Black and White, Industrial Subject

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