Working on the Statue of Liberty

High above New York Harbor, five workmen cling to the colossal arm of the Statue of Liberty, meticulously cleaning its amber-colored torch. This 1946 painting captures a yearly ritual, as the statue's torch glass required regular maintenance. The bright summer sky provides a vivid backdrop, silhouetting the workers and the iconic statue. The artist focuses on just a small, elevated section of the monument (the torch, a 42-foot arm, and part of the head), making the viewer feel like they are right there with the crew. What might seem like a simple scene of labor also subtly challenged conventions of its time; one of the workers is African-American, a detail that went against the editorial policies of the magazine where this image first appeared.