Michael Weinstein

After returning to Chicago from World War II, Bob Natkin abandoned his plans to become a physician and devoted himself to the photo-documentary, which was reaching its zenith at that time. Sharing with his generation a film noir sensibility that revealed reality warts and all, Natkin infused it with the humanism that our sweet-home shooters never seem to be able to shake off. The mix of grit and honey comes out best in Natkin's series on South Side slums and a young woman going through the tribulations of narcotics court. After the woman has suffered the ordeal of baring her arm to show its needle tracks to a group of six men surrounding her in the courtroom, Natkin captures her sitting forlorn on the edge of the cot in the shadows of her cell.

Bob Natkin shows at the Stephen Daiter Gallery, 311 West Superior, (312)787-3350, through December 31.

(2004-11-22)

Also by Michael Weinstein

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Agit-art
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