Romare Bearden (1911-1988) is considered one of the most important American artists of the 20th century, known for depicting facets of African American culture. His Factory Workers (1942) represents the stylistic language of his early work, which typically utilized realist imagery to present a political message. The painting was originally commissioned by Fortune magazine to illustrate the article “The Negro’s War” and illuminates the continued racial prejudice within wartime production industries, depicting a group of men denied work at a steel mill because of their skin color.

Learn more about the work that inspired this pin HERE.