Untitled (Construction Worker) c. 1940

Herschel Levit made this lithograph, ‘Untitled (Construction Worker)’, at an undetermined time. You can see that the whole image is built up of tiny marks, a process of layering light and shade, almost like building a wall, brick by brick. That density gives the print a tactile quality, like the rough fabric of the worker’s gloves. The textures are incredible, from the heavy, smooth metal of the crane to the soft, smudgy clouds in the background. It's almost like you can feel the grit and grime of the construction site. Look at the way Levit renders the worker’s face, the slight smile and the way his eyes gaze upwards. Levit reminds me of Jacob Lawrence, both of them capturing the spirit and dignity of working people. There's a feeling of hope and progress here, even amidst the tough conditions. It's a beautiful reminder of the human effort that goes into building the world around us.