Lumber and Freight 

Paul Weller made this lithograph, titled "Lumber and Freight", using limestone and greasy materials to create the print. Weller approached this traditional art process with an eye to the everyday, depicting the built environment of industry. Observe the way the stark materials—lumber, concrete, steel—are rendered through the stark contrasts of black and white in the print. The rough texture of the lumber and the hard edges of the freight cars are captured with the marks of the lithographic crayon. The many individual pieces of lumber, pipes, and bricks give a sense of the labor involved in producing and transporting these materials. The railroad becomes a conduit of capital. In focusing on these elements of infrastructure, Weller asks us to consider the connection between raw materials, industrial production, and the built environment, reflecting on the way that labor and materials shape our world. This challenges traditional notions of what is considered worthy of artistic representation, elevating the everyday to the level of fine art.