Wheat Cart, Russia 

William Gropper made this drawing, Wheat Cart, Russia, using ink on paper. The apparent simplicity of the medium belies the complexity of the image. Notice the rough paper texture showing through the dark, fluid lines. The choice of ink drawing, a readily accessible technique, suggests a desire to connect with the subject matter: rural life and labor. The artist captures a scene of manual work, a horse-drawn cart laden with wheat, its rough and unrefined appearance showing signs of the work involved in agriculture. The drawing's expressive lines emphasize the weight and burden of physical labor, a subject matter often overlooked by traditional "high art." Gropper's embrace of this subject challenges the distinction between fine art and craft. He elevates the everyday, highlighting the dignity and importance of working people.