Sampling Cotton c. 1940

"Sampling Cotton" is a graphite drawing by American artist Merritt Mauzey, created around 1940. The drawing depicts two workers in a cotton gin, one pushing a cart loaded with a bale of cotton towards the other, who is likely inspecting the quality of the cotton. The scene is rendered in a realistic style, with meticulous detail in the textures of the cotton bales, the wood of the gin, and the clothing of the workers. Mauzey's work often focused on rural scenes and the lives of working people, capturing the everyday realities of life in America during the early 20th century.