Jam Session

1935[-]43

Fred Becker captured the frantic energy of 1930s jazz in this wild print, where the musicians look more like mischievous goblins than humans. Created for the Federal Art Project (WPA) during the Great Depression, this piece was part of a massive government effort to employ artists and bring art to the public. The twisted figures, with their bulging eyes and long, spindly fingers, perfectly mirror the improvisational, 'hot' nature of a jam session. It turns a musical performance into a visual riot of rhythm, showing how jazz was often seen as a wild, almost supernatural force in that era.

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