Sebastião Salgado’s “Workers” is a global visual epic that transcends mere representation to become an affirmation of the enduring spirit of working men and women. Spanning six years and twenty-seven countries, Salgado documents the archaeological layers of manual labor that still define the modern world—from the infernal landscapes of Indonesian sulfur mines to the staggering endurance of Brazilian gold miners. The book is an elegy for the passing of traditional methods of labor and production, delivering a message of endurance, dignity, and hope in the face of the Industrial Revolution’s ceaseless progress.
