Untitled (Country-Bailing Hay) c. 1938 - 1948

Lynd Ward's wood engraving "Untitled (Country-Bailing Hay)" captures a scene of rural American labor circa 1938-1948. The detailed black and white composition showcases a mechanical hay baler in the foreground, while figures in the background laboriously gather and load hay bales. Ward's style utilizes the dramatic contrasts of light and shadow, highlighting the powerful machinery in the foreground and the humble toil of the workers in the distance. The engraving provides a snapshot of the changing face of agriculture, reflecting the increasing mechanization of farm work during the mid-20th century.