Untitled (Lineman) c. 1930s

Ceil Rosenberg made this woodcut, Untitled (Lineman), during the 1930s, a period when many artists turned their attention to the lives of working-class Americans. Rosenberg’s choice of medium is significant. Woodcut, with its stark contrasts and bold lines, lends itself well to depicting the dignity of labor. The artist uses the graphic language of the print to create meaning through visual codes. The composition emphasizes the worker's strength and skill, portraying him as an essential part of the nation's infrastructure. During the 1930s, the Works Progress Administration, or WPA, was a government program that employed artists to create works that celebrated American values. Archival records, such as WPA documents and period publications, can tell us more about the public role of art in this period. Investigating social conditions that shape artistic production will illuminate Rosenberg's contribution to our cultural history.