03/06/2025
Can a single photograph embody the extremes of human suffering? What does modern slavery look like in its rawest form?
That's precisely what Sebastião Salgado achieved with his iconic 1986 image of the Serra Pelada gold mine. This isn't just a picture; it's a look at what many call modern "slavery." Imagine a living anthill of people, a constant flow of figures emerging from deep shadows, bent under the weight of earth-filled sacks, clinging to shaky wooden ladders. Then there are those disappearing back into the abyss, slipping down muddy slopes into the unknown. It's a scene that grabs you and doesn't let go.
The world of photography, and indeed humanity, mourns the recent passing of Sebastião Salgado on May 23, 2025. His incredible body of work, driven by deep empathy and a relentless commitment to bearing witness, has left an indelible mark. Salgado's lens didn't just capture images; it chronicled our shared history, illuminated profound injustices, and celebrated the enduring spirit of life.
Salgado captured this image in the mine's very last year of operation. It's almost impossible to truly count how many people toiled there, but estimates suggest at least 50,000 souls were digging for gold daily. You had the "garimpeiros" – the actual miners and climbers – and then the "formigas," or "ants." These "ants" were the ones doing the truly back-breaking work, hauling 50-kilogram sacks of dirt up about 400 meters on rope ladders. For this incredibly difficult labor, they earned a meager 20 cents a sack, with a tiny bonus if their particular sack happened to contain any gold.
Today, the Serra Pelada mine is a ghostly reminder of that era. The massive pit, dug entirely by hand, has since filled with water, creating a polluted lake. It's a stark, silent monument to the immense human effort and suffering that took place there.
Salgado's photograph is more than just a historical record; it's a timeless accusation against exploitation, a window into the hidden struggles of those often forgotten.
The world will profoundly miss him, for he possessed the unique gift of giving face and body to the anonymous, ensuring that the stories of the unheard and the unseen would be etched into our collective memory.
Image
Sebastião Salgado
'Goldmine, Serra Pelada, Brazil, 1986
We Are Human Angels
Authors
Awakening the Human Spirit
We are the authors of 'We Are Human Angels,' the book that has spread a new vision of the human experience and has been spontaneously translated into 14 languages by the readers.
We hope our writing sparks something in you!
