Joe's Place c. 1936

Charles Wheeler Locke created this lithograph, “Joe’s Place.” The lithographic process involves drawing with a grease pencil on a stone or metal plate, which is then treated with chemicals to fix the image before printing. Look closely, and you can see how the qualities of this medium lend themselves to the overall appearance of the work. The pencil-like marks can be built up to create dark shadows and subtle gradations of tone, giving the image a sense of depth and atmosphere. Lithography allowed artists to reproduce their work in multiples. This print participates in a long tradition of social realism. The drawing depicts a group of men gathered in what looks to be a working-class bar, a place of conviviality and refuge from the hardships of everyday life. This image is very much about people, labor, and the social fabric of urban life, and the printmaking process itself allowed for wide circulation and engagement with this subject matter. It offers a window into a specific time and place, inviting us to reflect on the social and cultural dynamics of the past.