Two Laborers n.d.

William Henry Pyne made this drawing, "Two Laborers," using graphite on paper. The quick, efficient strokes of the graphite speak to a sense of immediacy, as if Pyne captured a fleeting moment in the everyday lives of working people. The subject of labor is at the heart of this piece, of course. We see two figures, one bent over and the other seemingly operating some kind of heavy machinery. Pyne’s choice of graphite on paper, a relatively accessible and portable medium, allows him to depict laborers engaged in their craft. The sketch-like quality also emphasizes the sheer amount of work involved. It also reflects Pyne's interest in the social landscape around him. The choice of such a humble medium as graphite elevates the ordinary, drawing our attention to the value of labor and the lives of those who perform it. It invites us to consider the narratives embedded in materials and making, and the cultural significance of the laboring classes in a rapidly changing society.