The Hot Mill - First Line of Defense 1941

Louise Boyer created this print called 'The Hot Mill - First Line of Defense' using etching. It's all about these hardworking figures in an industrial landscape, rendered in stark black and white. I can almost feel the heat and see the sparks flying as these workers go about their day. There's so much grit and determination etched into every line. I wonder if Boyer was thinking about the human cost of industry when she made this? There's a 'Danger' sign in the background, almost like a premonition of some kind. I wonder how it feels to operate one of those machines day in and day out? It kinda reminds me of the Ashcan School painters who were also drawn to scenes of urban life. This piece really captures a sense of the times and the strength of these laborers. It makes you think, doesn't it?