Fire Boss 1939

"Fire Boss" is a 1939 etching by American artist Nicholas Bervinchak (1903-1978). The artwork depicts a coal miner, identified as the "Fire Boss", standing in a dark mine shaft with a safety lamp in his hand. Bervinchak's use of cross-hatching and tonal contrasts effectively conveys the oppressive darkness of the mine, while highlighting the miner's solitary and potentially dangerous work. The print, which measures 22.5 x 14.9 cm, offers a powerful glimpse into the harsh realities of industrial labor in the 20th century.