Born in 1902 in a rural province of Mexico, photographer Elena Rosales is considered a pioneer of modern documentary photography. In an art history paper, a student claims that Rosales’s work possesses significant anthropological value—arguing that she did not merely take portraits, but faithfully cataloged the daily realities and traditions of indigenous communities with respect and accuracy.
Which finding, if true, would most directly buttress the student's claim?
While Rosales was commissioned to photograph wealthy politicians, she spent decades capturing thousands of images detailing the weaving techniques, harvest festivals, and domestic lives of rural villagers.
Rosales’s developing techniques were revolutionary for her time, utilizing a unique chemical process to enhance the contrast between shadow and light.
Rosales’s exhibitions were critically acclaimed in Europe during the 1950s, bringing international attention to Mexican art.
Many of the landscapes Rosales photographed were also painted by famous muralists of the same era.
Correct Answer: A
Choice A is the best answer. The student claims the work has "anthropological value" because it catalogs "daily realities and traditions." Finding that she produced thousands of images detailing "weaving techniques, harvest festivals, and domestic lives" provides direct evidence of this ethnographic documentation.
Choice B focuses on technical photography skills (lighting/chemistry), not ethnographic content. Choice C focuses on her fame and critical acclaim, not the specific content or accuracy of her cultural documentation. Choice D mentions that the subjects were popular in other art forms, which does not prove Rosales's work had specific ethnographic value.