Woman with Basket, and cover sheet with printing instructions 

George Bellows made this charcoal drawing of two women carrying a basket. Bellows was part of the Ashcan School, a group of artists who aimed to capture the everyday life of early 20th century New York, often focusing on its working class. Here, the figures are viewed from behind, their faces obscured, which invites us to consider them not as individuals, but as representatives of a social class and gender. The way they are presented evokes questions about labor, anonymity, and the roles of women in society. The weight of the basket they carry, and the anonymity of their presentation, speaks volumes about the often unseen labor that sustains urban life. Bellows gives dignity to his subjects, despite the hardships they may face. This drawing serves as a poignant reflection on the lives of working women during a transformative period in American history.