Mural of Mina (detail) 1965

"Mural of Mina (detail)" is a 1965 work by the Italian artist Vela Zanetti (1913-1999). The detail shows a pair of hands cradling a large piece of coal in front of an intense orange fire. The work is likely a detail of a larger mural depicting a scene of miners, highlighting the labor and hardship of this profession. The dramatic use of light and shadow, along with the close-up perspective, emphasizes the physicality and intensity of the scene, creating a powerful and moving image. The artwork's subject matter and style point towards a focus on social realism, a genre that emerged in the early 20th century and aimed to depict the lives and struggles of working-class people.