Timber Hauling 1917

Curator: Sir William Rothenstein’s "Timber Hauling," currently held in the Tate Collections, presents a fascinating look at labor practices. Editor: It feels so exposed, doesn't it? Like a raw nerve, all these bare trees and men working, stripped of any romanticism. Curator: Absolutely. The monochrome print emphasizes the physicality of the labor involved, the interaction between the workers and the raw materials. The repetitive actions of timber hauling invite us to contemplate the social context of the labor. Editor: There's a stark honesty. It lacks the heroic gloss you often see and reminds me of my grandfather's stories working in his family's mill. Curator: A stark portrayal, indeed. This piece really brings to light the relationship between labor and resource. Editor: It gives voice to something essential, doesn’t it?