Copper Miners 1938

Lewis W. Rubenstein created this lithograph titled 'Copper Miners'. The print invites us to reflect on the lives and labor of those who toiled in the copper mines. Rubenstein’s image speaks volumes about the social and economic structures of labor. Copper mining, often located in remote and rugged terrains, has historically been a male-dominated industry marked by physical hardship and risk. The absence of women underscores the gendered nature of labor during the time. The miners’ bodies, rendered in stark detail, convey the physical demands of their work. The image provides an entry point to consider how class, labor, and identity intersect, offering a glimpse into the lives of those whose contributions often go unnoticed. One can only imagine the backbreaking labor and the ever-present dangers they faced daily. It asks us to consider the human cost of industrial progress and the complex narratives embedded in images of work and workers.