Work and Rest 1941

Jean Charlot made this drawing, called "Work and Rest", with colored pencil, and it’s just so tender. Look at the way he builds up these areas of tone with hatching; little parallel lines. These strokes are really close together and make for subtle gradations of colour and value. The woman’s arms are created with warm reddish browns, and the sleeping child is more subtly coloured, nestled in a white rebozo. I keep coming back to the woman’s hands, though. She’s grinding something in a stone, maybe preparing food. There’s such incredible care and attention in this image, it’s clear that Charlot was interested in the dignity of labour and of motherhood. I think of other artists who were interested in depicting everyday life in the Americas at this time, like Diego Rivera, but Charlot brings this lovely intimacy to his work. It’s really very special.