Corn c. 1938 - 1939

Frank Cassara's "Corn" is a lithograph depicting two farmers harvesting corn, and invites reflection on labor, agriculture, and the portrayal of rural life in American art. The image, with its detailed rendering of the farmers' labor and the corn stalks, evokes a sense of the dignity of work. Cassara was active in the mid-20th century; a time when the art world was increasingly focused on abstract expressionism, but here we see a conscious decision to depict an agrarian scene. This might be a commentary on the shift in American society away from agriculture and towards industry. The social realism movement, which aimed to depict everyday life and social issues, provides a valuable point of comparison. By considering these contexts, we can better understand Cassara's artistic choices and his potential commentary on the social and economic landscape of his time. The role of the historian is to situate the image within these broader histories, using primary sources, exhibition records, and other archival materials to understand the work's place in the cultural landscape.