Dan Ward's Stack. Ireland 

Rockwell Kent’s painting, Dan Ward's Stack, painted in Ireland, depicts laborers atop and around a massive haystack set against a vibrant sunset. Kent, a figure of the American left, was deeply interested in the dignity of labor. Here, he romanticizes the collective effort of rural workers. The men, rendered with a kind of heroic simplicity, are engaged in the labor-intensive process of stacking hay, a task integral to the agricultural cycle. Kent, with his socialist leanings, often turned to such scenes, celebrating the communal spirit and physical strength of the working class. The artist's choice to portray these laborers against the backdrop of a dramatic sunset elevates their toil, imbuing it with a sense of purpose and beauty. Kent was quoted as saying, "Art is the affirmation of life." The painting's emotional resonance is rooted in its romantic portrayal of work. Kent asks us to reflect on the labor that sustains us, subtly reminding us of the human connection to the land and the dignity inherent in honest work.