People at Work
•The following pictures in the collections at the New England Regional Art Museum are about work and although they look different they have one thing in common. They are done by artists who thought that the best way to share their idea about work was through a picture.
•Before you look at the works shown here have a look at some work by other artists that were interested in portraying people at work as a subject matter;
Edgar Degas, Laundry Maids, c. 1884, or Ironers by Gustave Caillebotte, Floor Scrapers by Candido Portinari, John Brack’s, Men’s Wear, 1953 and The barber’s shop, 1952
Compare these two works, The Bar at the Folies-Bergeres, 1881-2, by Edouard Manet and The bar, 1954 by John Brack. What do they have in common?
•The pictures tell us how the artists felt about different types of work.
•Some are of real places and some are imaginary.
•Some are about hard physical work while others are more about thoughtful work. Look at Tom Roberts, The Golden Fleece: Shearing at Newstead, 1894 and Edgar Degas, The Cotton Office, New Orleans.
•Some artists show work as a joyful activity while others show work as a burden. Look at the painting by Laura Knight titled, Ruby Loftus Screwing a Breech-ring and Pablo Picasso, Girl Ironing
•You will have different feelings as you look at the pictures about the idea of work.
•Some of the paintings are about things that you have never come across before but these pictures may help you to understand the world of work.
•How has the idea of work changed today?
What can you tell about these people at work? CLICK on the images below to find out more!
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