Amazing stuff -- I've always like Abbott's work, but hadn't realized that the wealth of material in the first link was available on line.

I've only started going through these, and am gobsmacked by the series at 21-22-23, the unemployed men (this was obviously during the Depression) sitting outside their tiny shacks in a Manhattan alley, assembled, it would appear, from scavenged material, including some large paintings hung on the exteriors. They are clearly in quite abject poverty, and yet still have their respectable hats...

This is great, and I love the quote too. Thanks so much for posting the links!