Untitled (Construction Worker) c. 1940

Here is Herschel Levit’s Untitled (Construction Worker), a lithograph print on paper. Look at the sky rendered with all those striated charcoal marks—lines upon lines, packed together to evoke dark billowing clouds. I can imagine the artist’s hand moving deliberately across the surface. It’s as if Levit is building up layer upon layer with his marks, just like the construction worker he depicts here. That figure is completely absorbed, directing operations with such conviction and poise! Maybe Levit wanted to show a kind of worker’s pride, but there’s a deeper human connection too. It’s like he’s saying, ‘I see you, I recognize your effort.’ There’s this ongoing conversation among artists across time—a sharing of ideas and techniques that continues to inspire creativity. Levit’s print isn't just a snapshot of a construction worker; it’s a way of thinking, a way of seeing the world that encourages us to appreciate the details of our daily lives.