The Union Meeting 1936

John Langley Howard’s print depicts a gathering, likely a labor union meeting, rendered in somber blacks and whites. The composition is structured around dense clusters of figures, their forms merging to create a collective body. Howard's technique invites a deeper reading into the socio-political environment of his time. The monochromatic palette and chiaroscuro lighting heighten the drama and gravitas of the scene. This evokes a sense of the working class, their faces etched with determination. The arrangement and gaze of the subjects suggests a shared purpose, reinforced by the formal elements of the print. The structure of the work is such that it offers a study of power dynamics and social structures. The artist's work becomes a signifier of collective identity and solidarity. Howard's strategic use of form allows us to interpret not just an aesthetic creation, but an ongoing discourse about community and change.