Tradesman's Sign c. 1937

This is George Constantine’s ‘Tradesman’s Sign’. Constantine, born in 1855, captured a pivotal era where folk art met the burgeoning forces of industrialization. The image depicts what was a real life, 48" high, wooden sculpture. She stands adorned in a distinctive outfit that mixes elements of both working-class practicality and an almost theatrical flair with the jaunty feather in her hat. Her posture, with hands clasped, suggests a certain dignity amidst her labor. These signs marked a time when businesses relied on visual symbols to communicate their trade. Constantine’s work taps into broader questions about labor, identity, and representation in a rapidly changing world. The tradeswoman embodies the intersection of gender and class, challenging traditional narratives and offering a powerful statement about women's presence and contribution to the economic landscape. It is a testament to the quiet strength and resilience of working women, immortalized in wood and paint.