Lord, My Burden!

1935[-]40

Fred Becker, an artist supported by the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression, created this haunting print to capture the crushing weight of the era. Two emaciated, almost skeletal figures dominate the dark space: a man crawling on all fours like a beast of burden, while a grotesque, long-limbed figure rides his back, wielding a staff like a cruel master. The title, 'Lord, My Burden!', transforms a religious plea into a scream of exhaustion, reflecting the intense social struggle of the 1930s. It’s a powerful example of American Modernism using stark contrast to visualize human suffering.

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