Welder 1945

Ethel V. Ashton’s 1945 lithograph "Welder" depicts a figure in profile, obscured by shadow, yet illuminated by the intense light of welding. The figure is clad in work clothes, their head bent in concentration as they manipulate the welding torch. The artist's use of shading and hatching in this black and white print creates a stark contrast between the light and dark areas, emphasizing the figure's intense focus and the dangerous yet transformative power of the welding process. "Welder" is a powerful representation of the hard-working individuals who fueled America's wartime industrial production.