A Child Barber in Boston’s North End
Hine captured twelve-year-old Frank de Natale working at his father’s barber shop in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts. He is responsible for lathering and shaving customers. Like the Messina brothers who helped with their parent’s bakery, Frank de Natale helped his father with his business. DeNatale was fortunate, however. He was still able to attend school, even with his barber shop job.
DeNatale worked after school and on Saturdays, giving him the chance at an education many child laborers did not. Nor was he the sole support for his family. But the precision with which he holds the blade and the trust the customer has in someone so young shaving his skin shows DeNatale had been at the job for some time, although Hine did not specify how long that might have been.
