Cutting 1931

Clare Leighton created the wood engraving, “Cutting,” in the Regionalist style which gained popularity in the United States during the Great Depression. The print depicts two men in a snow-covered forest cutting down a tree. Leighton, a British artist, immigrated to the United States in 1939. Here, we see her interest in the dignity of manual labor, which was a common theme among Regionalist artists who sought to capture the everyday lives of working-class Americans, particularly in rural settings. The choice to depict the figures from the back, their faces obscured, invites viewers to consider the universal aspects of hard work. "Cutting" prompts reflection on the relationship between humans and the natural world, and the emotional and physical demands of labor. It is a poignant commentary on the American experience during times of economic hardship.