Mural c. 1940

"Mural" (c. 1940) by Herbert Silberman is a striking black and white drawing that captures the energy and chaos of urban construction. The composition features a central tree trunk, its roots sprawling across the bottom of the sheet, and its branches reaching out to a series of geometric structures. The figures, depicted in a simplified and expressive style, are engaged in various tasks, creating a sense of movement and activity. Silberman's use of strong contrasts and bold lines, evokes a sense of dynamism and tension, typical of American Social Realism. The work, though not explicitly dated, can be placed within the context of the social and political landscape of the 1940s.