Heavy Going 1929

Levon West made this etching, titled *Heavy Going*, sometime in the first half of the twentieth century. It depicts a group of men on horseback traversing a snowy landscape. West, who changed his name to Ivan Dmitri in the 1930s, was known for his work romanticizing labor and industry. He was part of a generation that actively formed and mythologized American identity. This piece, with its quiet depiction of labor, certainly contributes to that project. I wonder, though, about the stories it leaves out. What does it mean to create a narrative of the American West that centers the labor of some, while erasing the histories and identities of others? The figures seem to strain against the environment. The muted tones and blurred lines evoke a sense of isolation and perseverance. The vast, empty landscape seems to highlight the personal, internal experience of each figure, while connecting them through their shared endeavor. Ultimately, the print invites us to consider whose stories are told, whose are forgotten, and the emotional weight of forging a life in a landscape that is both beautiful and unforgiving.