Untitled (Mid-Western Landscape) c. 1940

Joseph John Paul Meert’s *Untitled (Mid-Western Landscape)* from c. 1940, depicts a quintessential American scene of rural life. A woman stands by a well in the foreground, gazing out at a field of hay bales being gathered by a team of men and horses. The meticulous detail in Meert's drawing evokes the realism of the American Regionalist movement, capturing the working class and rural landscapes of the American heartland. The composition balances the quiet domesticity of the woman with the activity of the working men in the distance, portraying the interconnectedness of farm life. The image is a powerful testament to the spirit of hard work and resilience that defined America in the early 20th century.