Abandoned Coal Mine c. 1935 - 1936

"Abandoned Coal Mine" is a 1935-36 lithograph by American artist Harry Gottlieb (1894-1992). The black and white artwork depicts a stark, industrial scene of a coal mine, with an emphasis on the harshness of the work environment and the powerful structures of the mine. The bold lines and dramatic contrasts create a sense of depth and monumentality, evoking a sense of the mine's vastness and the weight of the industry. This piece is characteristic of Gottlieb's social realism style, which often explores the lives and labor of working-class Americans during the Depression era.