Untitled (Workers) 

This drawing, rendered by Howard Leigh, presents workers in a seemingly timeless pose of labor. Observe the bowed heads and bent backs of the figures. In Western art, such postures often symbolize humility, burden, or dedication, echoing religious iconography where similar gestures signify submission to divine will. Think of the stooped figures in depictions of the ‘Bearing of the Cross’. Yet, here, the context shifts: the sacred becomes secular. These are not saints or martyrs, but laborers. However, the psychological impact remains potent. The image evokes empathy, and perhaps even a sense of collective guilt, as we witness their strenuous efforts. This posture reappears throughout history, from Millet's ‘The Gleaners’ to Käthe Kollwitz’s prints of suffering mothers, each carrying the weight of human toil and resilience. Ultimately, Leigh captures a cyclical aspect of human existence. The workers’ pose, laden with historical and emotional resonance, underscores the enduring nature of labor and its profound impact on the human psyche.