Untitled (Road Builders) 

Bernard Joseph Steffen created this lithograph, titled "Untitled (Road Builders)," portraying a crew engaged in construction work. Steffen lived through the Great Depression, a period of immense economic hardship and social upheaval in the United States. The image evokes the era of large-scale public works projects initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, designed to combat unemployment and stimulate the economy. This print quietly highlights themes of labor and collective effort during times of adversity. The figures are anonymous, emphasizing the collective nature of their endeavor. It prompts us to consider the countless individuals whose labor shaped the American landscape. Their identities and stories are often overshadowed by grand narratives of progress. It challenges us to consider the human cost of such projects. How did these endeavors affect individuals, their families, and their communities?