The Builders

Charles F. Quest, The Builders, ca. 1934-1935, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the U.S. Department of Labor, 1964.1.1
Copied Charles F. Quest, The Builders, ca. 1934-1935, oil on canvas, 36 x 52 in. (91.5 x 132.1 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the U.S. Department of Labor, 1964.1.1

Artwork Details

Title
The Builders
Artist
Date
ca. 1934-1935
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
36 x 52 in. (91.5 x 132.1 cm)
Credit Line
Transfer from the U.S. Department of Labor
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas
Classifications
Subjects
  • New Deal — Public Works of Art Project — Missouri
  • Occupation — industry — construction
  • Figure group — male
Object Number
1964.1.1
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1964.1.1

Artwork Description

This painting shows a group of busy workers on a building site, mixing mortar, hanging cabinets, and carrying supplies. Charles F. Quest was a sculptor and printmaker as well as a painter, and enjoyed the satisfaction of making things with his hands. Here, he painted a cheerful view of construction workers that celebrates physical labor and teamwork. The thick, gritty paint evokes the sand, cement, and rough-hewn wood of an unfinished building.