Chicken Vendors [recto] c. 1927

George Overbury Hart, or “Pop” Hart as he was known, created “Chicken Vendors” with watercolor and charcoal. Hart, born in 1868, came of age during a period of significant social and political change, shaped by industrialization, urbanization, and immigration. Hart's work often reflects an interest in depicting working-class people. “Chicken Vendors” presents a group of indigenous street vendors accompanied by a donkey, rendered with an attention to line and form, characteristic of Hart’s style. Hart traveled extensively throughout his career, including to Latin America, capturing scenes of everyday life. His depictions, however, raise questions about representation and the gaze. How do we interpret Hart's portrayal of these figures? Are they sympathetic, or do they exoticize the subjects? The artwork invites us to reflect on cultural exchange and the artist’s role in interpreting and representing different communities.