Early Morning 1932

James Brooks made this drypoint etching, "Early Morning," in 1932. Its images of industrial equipment and agricultural activity speak to the social and economic upheavals of the Great Depression in the United States. Brooks may be commenting on the impact of industrialization on rural life and the displacement of traditional labor practices. The composition is divided between the stark geometry of the machine under its cover and the milk truck on the one hand, and the dark mass of the horse at the limits of its enclosure on the other. The use of drypoint etching, with its characteristic burr, creates a soft, velvety texture, adding a layer of nostalgia to what might otherwise be read as a commentary on technological advancement. Further research into Brooks' personal history and the economic conditions of the time, using sources such as period newspapers, government documents, and social surveys, would enrich our understanding of the social meanings embedded in this image.