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Working Class Collection

The working class, an integral part of society's backbone, has long been depicted in various forms of art and propaganda

Background imageWorking Class Collection: CAPITALIST PYRAMID, 1911. American Socialist poster

CAPITALIST PYRAMID, 1911. American Socialist poster

Background imageWorking Class Collection: The Old George at 379 Bethnal Green, London, England

The Old George at 379 Bethnal Green, London, England. A large crowd and a great number of beer barrels line the street with brewery workers holding tankards. 1885

Background imageWorking Class Collection: The Young Communist League is the Shock Battalion of the Five-Year Plan

The Young Communist League is the Shock Battalion of the Five-Year Plan. Soviet poster, 1931, by Vladimir Lyushin
RUSSIA: FIVE YEAR PLAN. The Young Communist League is the Shock Battalion of the Five-Year Plan. Soviet poster, 1931, by Vladimir Lyushin

Background imageWorking Class Collection: WORKERS & FARMERS POSTER. From Workers to Farmers... Thanks! Poster, 1944

WORKERS & FARMERS POSTER. From Workers to Farmers... Thanks! Poster, 1944, by Ben Shahn for the Congress of Industrial Organizations to encourage united political action by labor

Background imageWorking Class Collection: Salvation Army Social Campaign propaganda poster, London, c. 1910 (chromolitho)

Salvation Army Social Campaign propaganda poster, London, c. 1910 (chromolitho)
XND75970 Salvation Army Social Campaign propaganda poster, London, c.1910 (chromolitho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: In Darkest England and the Way Out)

Background imageWorking Class Collection: HARLEM NEWSBOY, 1943. A newsboy from Harlem, New York. Photograph by Gordon Parks, 1943

HARLEM NEWSBOY, 1943. A newsboy from Harlem, New York. Photograph by Gordon Parks, 1943
HARLEM NEWSBOY, 1943. A newsboy in Harlem, New York. Photograph by Gordon Parks, 1943, digitally colored by Granger, NYC -- All Rights Reserved

Background imageWorking Class Collection: Wringer, wet clothes dryer

Wringer, wet clothes dryer
Antique illustration of a wringer, wet clothes dryer

Background imageWorking Class Collection: RUSSIA: REVOLUTION OF 1905. Father Gapon leading unarmed factory workers against

RUSSIA: REVOLUTION OF 1905. Father Gapon leading unarmed factory workers against Cossacks at the Narva Gate, St. Petersburg, 22 January 1905. Contemporary drawing

Background imageWorking Class Collection: Unemployed coal miners demonstrating at Jarrow, England, in 1936

Unemployed coal miners demonstrating at Jarrow, England, in 1936
ENGLAND: COAL MINERS, 1936. Unemployed coal miners demonstrating at Jarrow, England, in 1936

Background imageWorking Class Collection: OTIS ELEVATOR WORKS, 1853. The Otis factory on the Hudson River in Yonkers, New York

OTIS ELEVATOR WORKS, 1853. The Otis factory on the Hudson River in Yonkers, New York. Wood engraving, 1853

Background imageWorking Class Collection: Worker and Kolkhoz Woman, sculpture by Vera Mukhina, Moscow (b / w photo)

Worker and Kolkhoz Woman, sculpture by Vera Mukhina, Moscow (b / w photo)
7200710 Worker and Kolkhoz Woman, sculpture by Vera Mukhina, Moscow (b/w photo) by Russian Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Worker and Kolkhoz Woman)

Background imageWorking Class Collection: The Devils Acre - Westminster, 1872. Creator: Gustave Doré

The Devils Acre - Westminster, 1872. Creator: Gustave Doré
The Devils Acre-Westminster, 1872. Devils Acre, a Victorian slum near Westminster Abbey had a high rate of mortality from diseases such as typhoid. From, " LONDON

Background imageWorking Class Collection: Women of Britain, Come into the Factories. British poster recruiting women for munitions work

Women of Britain, Come into the Factories. British poster recruiting women for munitions work during World War II
WWII: BRITISH POSTER. Women of Britain, Come into the Factories. British poster recruiting women for munitions work during World War II, by Donald Zec, c1941

Background imageWorking Class Collection: The Girl He Left Behind Is Still Behind Him. American World War II recruitment poster for women

The Girl He Left Behind Is Still Behind Him. American World War II recruitment poster for women ordnance workers
WORLD WAR II POSTER. The Girl He Left Behind Is Still Behind Him. American World War II recruitment poster for women ordnance workers

Background imageWorking Class Collection: Welders, or For Full Employment After the War. Poster, 1944, by Ben Shahn for the Congress of

Welders, or For Full Employment After the War. Poster, 1944, by Ben Shahn for the Congress of Industrial Organizations
WWII: EMPLOYMENT POSTER. Welders, or For Full Employment After the War. Poster, 1944, by Ben Shahn for the Congress of Industrial Organizations

Background imageWorking Class Collection: Men standing in front of the Board of Trade bar and gambling house in Butte, Montana

Men standing in front of the Board of Trade bar and gambling house in Butte, Montana
MONTANA: GAMBLING, 1939. Men standing in front of the Board of Trade bar and gambling house in Butte, Montana. Photograph by Arthur Rothstein, 1939

Background imageWorking Class Collection: Steel Workers Organizing Comittee. Painting for a poster (never printed), late 1930s, by Ben Shahn

Steel Workers Organizing Comittee. Painting for a poster (never printed), late 1930s, by Ben Shahn
SHAHN: STEEL UNION POSTER. Steel Workers Organizing Comittee. Painting for a poster (never printed), late 1930s, by Ben Shahn

Background imageWorking Class Collection: Organize? With 1, 250, 000 Workers Backing Us, Of Course We Will Organize

Organize? With 1, 250, 000 Workers Backing Us, Of Course We Will Organize
LABOR: POSTER, 1930s. Organize? With 1, 250, 000 Workers Backing Us, Of Course We Will Organize. Original oil on canvas for a poster, late 1930s, by Ben Shahn

Background imageWorking Class Collection: Our Village, c1890, (1936). Creator: Hubert von Herkomer

Our Village, c1890, (1936). Creator: Hubert von Herkomer
Our Village, c1890, (1936). Village scene by Sir Hubert von Herkomer. (1849-1914). Oil on canvas. From " Bibbys Annual 1936", edited by Joseph Bibby. [J. Bibby & Sons, Ltd. Liverpool, 1936]

Background imageWorking Class Collection: United Trade Unions poster for the Popular Front, spring 1936

United Trade Unions poster for the Popular Front, spring 1936
FRANCE: POPULAR FRONT, 1936. United Trade Unions poster for the Popular Front, spring 1936

Background imageWorking Class Collection: John Peck & Co: Coats and Aprons for Butchers

John Peck & Co: Coats and Aprons for Butchers
3786257 John Peck & Co: Coats and Aprons for Butchers; (add.info.: John Peck & Co: Coats and Aprons for Butchers, Groces & Co. Early 20th century advert)

Background imageWorking Class Collection: John Peck & Co: Coats and Aprons for Butchers

John Peck & Co: Coats and Aprons for Butchers
3786256 John Peck & Co: Coats and Aprons for Butchers; (add.info.: John Peck & Co: Coats and Aprons for Butchers, Groces & Co. Early 20th century advert)

Background imageWorking Class Collection: Soviet poster celebrating three years since the Russian Revolution, 1920 (colour litho)

Soviet poster celebrating three years since the Russian Revolution, 1920 (colour litho)
PNP367380 Soviet poster celebrating three years since the Russian Revolution, 1920 (colour litho) by Russian School (20th century); Private Collection; Peter Newark Pictures

Background imageWorking Class Collection: EMPIRE STATE BUILDING, 1931. Steelworkers on girders of the Empire State Building, New York City

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING, 1931. Steelworkers on girders of the Empire State Building, New York City. Photographed by Lewis Hine, 1931

Background imageWorking Class Collection: An unemployed lumberjack with his wife in a migrant workers camp for the bean harvest

An unemployed lumberjack with his wife in a migrant workers camp for the bean harvest, Marion County, Oregon
OREGON: LUMBERJACK, 1939. An unemployed lumberjack with his wife in a migrant workers camp for the bean harvest, Marion County, Oregon. The man has his social security number tattooed on his arm

Background imageWorking Class Collection: Esther Bruce & her father Joseph Bruce in Fulham, London

Esther Bruce & her father Joseph Bruce in Fulham, London. Josephine Esther Bruce (1912-1994) working-class mixed race seamstress born in Fulham, London to a Guyanese father & an English mother

Background imageWorking Class Collection: NEW YORK: HOBOS, 1915. Hobos moving Hotel de Gink, a hotel for itinerant workers

NEW YORK: HOBOS, 1915. Hobos moving Hotel de Gink, a hotel for itinerant workers on the Bowery in New York City. Photograph, 8 April 1915

Background imageWorking Class Collection: TEXTILE MANUFACTURE, 1834. Mule spinning in a cotton textile mill. Line engraving

TEXTILE MANUFACTURE, 1834. Mule spinning in a cotton textile mill. Line engraving

Background imageWorking Class Collection: Study for Deserted - a Foundling (oil on canvas)

Study for Deserted - a Foundling (oil on canvas)
2956891 Study for Deserted - a Foundling (oil on canvas) by Holl, Frank (1845-88); 55.25x76.2 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: The scene is Bankside, the London docks)

Background imageWorking Class Collection: The Laundress

The Laundress
ACC17427 The Laundress by Frere, Pierre Edouard (1819-86); Haworth Art Gallery, Accrington, Lancashire, UK; eHaworth Art Gallery; French, out of copyright

Background imageWorking Class Collection: Wapping, 1860-64 (oil on canvas)

Wapping, 1860-64 (oil on canvas)
4073475 Wapping, 1860-64 (oil on canvas) by Whistler, James Abbott McNeill (1834-1903); 72x101.8 cm; National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, USA; American, out of copyright

Background imageWorking Class Collection: ROW HOUSES, 1938. Women and children in front of a row of low-income houses in Ambridge

ROW HOUSES, 1938. Women and children in front of a row of low-income houses in Ambridge, Pennsylvania. Photograph by Arthur Rothstein, July 1938

Background imageWorking Class Collection: The Thinker, 1881 (for detail see 63999)

The Thinker, 1881 (for detail see 63999)
BAL12887 The Thinker, 1881 (for detail see 63999) by Rodin, Auguste (1840-1917); 71.5x40x58 cm; Musee Rodin, Paris, France; (add.info.: modelled in 1880-82 for The Gates of Hell; ); French

Background imageWorking Class Collection: Handbill in English and in German calling the mass meeting at Haymarket Square, Chicago, May 4, 1886

Handbill in English and in German calling the mass meeting at Haymarket Square, Chicago, May 4, 1886
HAYMARKET HANDBILL, 1886. Handbill in English and in German calling the mass meeting at Haymarket Square, Chicago, May 4, 1886

Background imageWorking Class Collection: Cover of the Industrial Workers of the World Little Red Songbook, c1905

Cover of the Industrial Workers of the World Little Red Songbook, c1905, to fan the flames of discontent
IWW SONGBOOK COVER. Cover of the Industrial Workers of the World Little Red Songbook, c1905, to fan the flames of discontent

Background imageWorking Class Collection: Russian World War I war loan poster, 1916, depicting a woman factory worker

Russian World War I war loan poster, 1916, depicting a woman factory worker
WORLD WAR I: LOAN POSTER. Russian World War I war loan poster, 1916, depicting a woman factory worker

Background imageWorking Class Collection: Poster for the Industrial Workers of the World from an American labor newspaper of 1917

Poster for the Industrial Workers of the World from an American labor newspaper of 1917
IWW POSTER, 1917. Poster for the Industrial Workers of the World from an American labor newspaper of 1917

Background imageWorking Class Collection: Amalgamated Clothing Workers poster used during a strike at Model Blouse Co

Amalgamated Clothing Workers poster used during a strike at Model Blouse Co. Millville, New Jersey, 1935
NJ: STRIKE POSTER, 1935. Amalgamated Clothing Workers poster used during a strike at Model Blouse Co. Millville, New Jersey, 1935

Background imageWorking Class Collection: FORD AUTO FACTORY. Testing at Henry Fords Piquette plant c1905

FORD AUTO FACTORY. Testing at Henry Fords Piquette plant c1905

Background imageWorking Class Collection: CINCINNATI: HOUSES, 1935. A row of low-income houses with outhouses facing railroad tracks

CINCINNATI: HOUSES, 1935. A row of low-income houses with outhouses facing railroad tracks, Cincinnati, Ohio. Photograph by Carl Mydans in December 1935

Background imageWorking Class Collection: A Puppy for My Lady, (oil on canvas)

A Puppy for My Lady, (oil on canvas)
659164 A Puppy for My Lady, (oil on canvas) by Hardy, Heywood (1842-1933); 25.4x68.5 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: A Puppy for My Lady. Heywood Hardy (1842-1933). Oil on canvas

Background imageWorking Class Collection: Poster advertising the publication of Germinal

Poster advertising the publication of Germinal
CHT162725 Poster advertising the publication of Germinal by Emile Zola (1840-1902) in Gil Blas, 25th November 1878 (litho) by Choubrac, Leon (Hope) (1847-85); Musee de la Ville de Paris

Background imageWorking Class Collection: Limehouse Dock, 1872. Creator: Gustave Doré

Limehouse Dock, 1872. Creator: Gustave Doré
Limehouse Dock, 1872. Limehouse Dock in Tower Hamlets used by seagoing vessels to offload cargo to canal barges, for onward transport along the Regents Canal. From, " LONDON

Background imageWorking Class Collection: LEATHER MANUFACTURE, c1918. Workers scraping hides at the Alexander Brothers Leather

LEATHER MANUFACTURE, c1918. Workers scraping hides at the Alexander Brothers Leather Company plant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photographed c1918

Background imageWorking Class Collection: TEXTILE MILL, c1915. A foreman inspects a newly-imprinted piece of cotton cloth at a textile mill

TEXTILE MILL, c1915. A foreman inspects a newly-imprinted piece of cotton cloth at a textile mill, Lawrence, Massachusetts. Photographed c1915

Background imageWorking Class Collection: HINE: CHILD LABOR, 1910. Two young messenger boys using the showers at the Postal Telegraph Co

HINE: CHILD LABOR, 1910. Two young messenger boys using the showers at the Postal Telegraph Co. in New York City. Photograph by Lewis Hines in July 1910

Background imageWorking Class Collection: WORLD WAR I: WOMEN WORKERS. Women welding bomb casings in an American munitions factory, c1917

WORLD WAR I: WOMEN WORKERS. Women welding bomb casings in an American munitions factory, c1917. Oil over a photograph

Background imageWorking Class Collection: Everday life in a farmers living room, (painting)

Everday life in a farmers living room, (painting)
8719874 Everday life in a farmers living room, (painting) by Hansteen, Aasta (1824-1908); 56x72 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)



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The working class, an integral part of society's backbone, has long been depicted in various forms of art and propaganda. In the early 20th century, a capitalist pyramid stood tall, symbolizing the social hierarchy that oppressed the laborers. American Socialist posters from 1911 aimed to challenge this system and advocate for equality. As time progressed, the working class found representation in different ideologies. The Young Communist League emerged as a shock battalion during the Soviet Union's Five-Year Plan in 1931. Vladimir Lyushin's poster captured their determination and commitment towards building a new future. In late 1930s America, Ben Shahn painted an oil on canvas masterpiece titled "Organize?" It showcased over one million workers standing united behind the cause of organizing for better rights and conditions. Across borders, even organizations like Salvation Army used propaganda to address social issues such as poverty. A London-based chromolitho poster from around 1910 highlighted their efforts to uplift those affected by economic hardships. Historical landmarks also bear witness to the struggles faced by the working class. The Old George pub at Bethnal Green in London served as a gathering place where locals shared stories of hardship and resilience during challenging times. One such instance was witnessed when unemployed coal miners took to the streets of Jarrow, England in 1936 demanding justice amidst widespread unemployment caused by industrial decline. Artistic expressions have immortalized iconic figures representing laborers' strength and unity. Vera Mukhina's sculpture "Worker and Kolkhoz Woman" became an emblematic image celebrating collective effort during Moscow's industrialization era. Moving across continents to Harlem in New York City during World War II, Gordon Parks captured a powerful photograph depicting a young newsboy hustling through adversity while contributing his share towards survival amidst difficult circumstances. Industrial progress brought forth innovations like wringers - wet clothes dryers - which eased some burdens carried by homemakers within working-class households. During the war, women played a crucial role in supporting the troops.