^ not the Great Depression but workers in the 19th century. I don't want to misquote but he dives into that in the documentary Wim Wenders did about him in the 80s and it's the one thing that's been consistent throughout his career so it's not really a surprise, it's more of a surprise when it's diluted imo, and I think that anyone who has been interested in his work is interested for these elements, so naturally they will appreciate when he delivers them unadulterated and at their finest. It may look like indoctrination for someone who finds nothing in them, but then, what doesn't if you focus on the reaction more than on what people are reacting to? even good weather will look like gospel if you're just looking at people reacting to good weather and not enjoying it yourself.
I do appreciate that the romanticization of old sartorial codes for labour often comes with a sense of humor or just details that make it less serious, less cartoonish and more modern. It's what completely sets him apart from the ultra Western approach of someone like.. Paul Harnden, and his insufferable, dogmatic, uptight work that makes his customers look like they're trying to compensate a lack of identity with clothes instead of enriching it or expressing themselves through it.