“The Working Day, no. 37” is one of Hugo Gellert’s most iconic pieces. Throughout many of his pieces, Gellert spread the message of communism, one of his core doctrines. “The Working Day, no. 37” is supposed to represent a quote from Marx, “Labor with a white skin cannot emancipate itself where labor with a black skin is branded.” Through this piece, Gellert wished to communicate to the viewer that without allowing African-Americans and European-Americans to enjoy the same social status, neither would be able to rise up and take power for themselves. He hoped that by propagating art like this he could prompt reform and progress towards a more socialistic America.
THE WORKING DAY, No. 37
The Working Day, no. 37, Hugo Gellert (1933)