Drilling in a Breast 1936

"Drilling in a Breast" is a 1936 lithograph by American artist Harry Sternberg. The black and white artwork depicts two miners working in a coal mine. The foreground features a miner drilling into a wall, his face illuminated by the light of his headlamp. His fellow miner sits behind him, holding a tool and a box labeled "Hercules." Sternberg, known for his social realist style, frequently chose to depict working-class people and their labor. This artwork is an example of Sternberg's commitment to portraying the struggles of everyday workers in a powerful and emotive way. The composition is dramatic, focusing on the intense physical labor involved in coal mining. This artwork is an important document of American industrial life in the 1930s and a powerful testament to the strength and resilience of workers.