Russell Lee's images of American life during the Great Depression cemented his place in history as one of the most important photographers of the twentieth century. His documentary work as a Farm Security Administration (FSA) photographer at Pie Town, New Mexico centered on the lives of a group of 1930's Dust Bowl refugees. "Jigger at Pie Town" as shown below is from that body of work and is perhaps his best known image. His interior picture of the upscale tourist summer resort hotel, the Navajo Lodge, at Datil, New Mexico located 21 miles from Pie Town was taken around the same time. The remarkable Navajo rug collection there was undoubtedly the focus of his attention. Both images are from the year 1940.
Images from the Library of Congress
