Builders and doctors in Brasilia: Brasilia, the most modern capital city in the world has 65,000 inhabitants in 1959. Today, its population totals 250,000. In three years this figure will increase to 500,000. Since the first foundations were laid, builders and doctors worked closely together, first of all to see to it that the 60,000 workers who took part in building the new city stayed in good health, then to prevent the town from being invaded by the diseases of bush and forest. Immigrants' health is checked systematically on the road into Brasilia, while specialists study the flora and fauna of the environment in order to discover possible sources of dangerous diseases. Building sights in the center of town.

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Builders and doctors in Brasilia: Brasilia, the most modern capital city in the world has 65,000 inhabitants in 1959. Today, its population totals 250,000. In three years this figure will increase to 500,000. Since the first foundations were laid, builders and doctors worked closely together, first of all to see to it that the 60,000 workers who took part in building the new city stayed in good health, then to prevent the town from being invaded by the diseases of bush and forest. Immigrants' health is checked systematically on the road into Brasilia, while specialists study the flora and fauna of the environment in order to discover possible sources of dangerous diseases. Building sights in the center of town.
Builders and doctors in Brasilia: Brasilia, the most modern capital city in the world has 65,000 inhabitants in 1959. Today, its population totals 250,000. In three years this figure will increase to 500,000. Since the first foundations were laid, builders and doctors worked closely together, first of all to see to it that the 60,000 workers who took part in building the new city stayed in good health, then to prevent the town from being invaded by the diseases of bush and forest. Immigrants' health is checked systematically on the road into Brasilia, while specialists study the flora and fauna of the environment in order to discover possible sources of dangerous diseases. Building sights in the center of town.
Artist/Maker (French-Hungarian, 1906 – 2003)
Dateca. 1960s
MediumVintage gelatin silver print
DimensionsOverall: 10 × 8 1/8 in. (25.4 × 20.6 cm) Image: 10 × 8 1/8 in. (25.4 × 20.6 cm)
Credit LineGift of Thomas J. Wilson and Jill M. Garling, P2016
Object number2022.15.176
Not on view
Collections

Additional Details

Provenance 2022: Hamilton College (Ruth and Elmer Wellin Museum of Art)
From the collection of Charles-Henri Favrod, the founding director of the Musée de l'Elysée de la Photographie in Lausanne, Switzerland
Markings Verso, center: "WHO/8475 Brazil-Brasilia/ BUILDERS AND DOCTORS IN BRASILIA. Brasilia, the most modern capital city in the world has 65,000 inhabitants in 1959. Today, its population totals 250,000. In three years this figure will increase to 500,000. Since the first foundations were laid, builders and doctors worked closely together, first of all to see to it that the 60,000 workers who took part in building the new city stayed in good health, then to prevent the town from being invaded by the diseases of bush and forest. Immigrants' health is checked systematically on the road into Brasilia, while specialists study the flora and fauna of the environment in order to discover possible sources of dangerous diseases. Pools of water on the building sites, on the open stretches of land and in the streets constitute a serious problem for the health services."

Verso, center: "BATISSEURS ET MEDECINS A BRASILIA. Brasilia, la plus moderne des capitales du/ monde, comptait 65,000 habitants en 1959. Aujord'hui 250.000. Dans 3 ans/ 500.000. Des que furent jetees les premieres fondations, les batisseurs et les/ medecins ont travaille en etroite collaboration. D'abord pour veiller a ce que/ les 60.000 ouvriers qui ont participe a l'edification de la nouvelle cite/ demeurent en bonne sante. Ensuite pour interdire l'acces de la ville aux/ maladies de la foret et de la brousse. Les immigrant sont soumis a un controle/ sanitaire systematique sur les routes menant a Brasilia, tandis que des/ specialistes etudient la flore et la faune de environs pour y descouvrir les/ foyers eventuels de maladies./ Les flaques d'eau stagnante sur les terrains vagues, les rues et les terrains/ a batir creant des problemes que les services de sante ont de la peine a resoudre./ WHO phot by Paul Almasy"
Inscribed Verso, top left corner: "PAL-F-24.1 2500-"
Verso, top center: "FCC F731"
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