The Miner 1904

"The Miner" is a bronze relief by Belgian artist Constantin Meunier, created in 1904. This work is a powerful example of Meunier's focus on the lives and labor of working-class people, particularly miners. The sculpture depicts a miner's face, seen in profile, with his hand resting on a pickaxe, conveying the physical toll of his work. Meunier's realistic and expressive style captures the dignity and hardship inherent in this labor, contributing to the social realist movement in art. The relief is now on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.