Scrub Ladies 1937

Santos Zingale made this lithograph, called "Scrub Ladies," in 1937. It's a humble scene, but Zingale’s use of hatching gives it a real sense of drama. Look how he’s built up the dark tones, layering the lines with such care and attention. You get the sense that he’s not just depicting these figures, but really thinking about the process of their labour. The texture of the lithographic crayon on the stone creates an image that feels both solid and full of movement. It's in the small details, like the way the light catches on the knuckles of their hands, or the folds in their clothes, that you see Zingale’s sensitivity to the physical world. The scrubbing cloth in the foreground is really fascinating, isn’t it? The detail in the folds and the shadow that is cast makes it feel as though it could be some alien life form. Zingale was part of the American Scene movement, and if you’re interested in art that celebrates the everyday, you could also check out the work of artists like Reginald Marsh. What’s great about art is that it is in endless conversation with itself.