W.P.A. Leaners on Shovels 1938

Bernece Berkman-Hunter made this print called W.P.A Leaners on Shovels. Look at how the artist has used short, curved lines to create depth and shadow, building up the figures from the ground. It makes me think about what it must have been like to be Bernece, looking at these workers and thinking, how can I communicate the essence of this scene? I imagine she wanted to say something about the human condition, but there's also something really painterly happening here with her use of light and shadow. Each stroke is almost like a building block. The composition is kind of unusual, with the foreground figures looming large and the background fading away – it creates a really interesting sense of perspective. The workers are leaning on their shovels, but also seem to be watching something in the distance. Painters are always in conversation with each other. I wonder if she looked at earlier prints and thought, "How can I make something new?" It's an ongoing exchange. Painting isn't just about representing the world; it’s about feeling it, questioning it, and sharing that with others.