Gleich in der Einleitung zu seinen Bildern unter dem Titel „A personal interpretation ...“ kommt W. Eugene Smith auf die Probleme des Auftrags zu sprechen: „To portray a city is beyond ending. To begin such an effort is itself a grave conceit. For though the portrayal may achieve its own measure of truth, it will still be no more than a rumor of the city, as meaningful, and as permanent.“