Birth of John Henry
1935[-]40
![Birth of John Henry by Fred Becker, 1935[-]40](https://www.thequadro.com/api/storage/artworks/thumb/l/fred-becker/fred-becker_birth-of-john-henry_ae72afe)
Fred Becker's striking woodcut brings the legendary American folk hero John Henry to life with raw, muscular energy, showing him emerging from churning waves with hands reaching toward the sky. Created during the Great Depression as part of the Federal Art Project, the piece features a giant, singing face looming in the corner—likely referencing the ballads that made him famous—along with a steamship tucked inside, hinting at his legendary race against the machine. The intricate, swirling lines capture both the chaos of the sea and the mythic scale of the man, perfectly blending 1930s social realism with modernist flair to celebrate the strength of the common worker.
- Technique
- woodcut
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