Guitar Player

Art Historical Context

**Guitar Player**, an etching by Fred Becker created between 1935 and 1939, captures the intimate focus of a male musician immersed in his craft. Produced under the Work Projects Administration (WPA)—a New Deal program that employed thousands of artists during the Great Depression—this print exemplifies the era's push to make art accessible to everyday Americans. Becker, a skilled printmaker, contributed to the Federal Art Project, which distributed affordable prints like this one to schools, libraries, and public, democratizing culture amid economic hardship. Etching, Becker's chosen medium, involves coating a metal plate with acid-resistant ground, scratching lines through it, and immersing it in acid to etch intricate details. Here, the 10 × 8-inch plate yields fine, expressive lines that convey the guitarist's concentration and the instrument's curves, highlighting the tactile rhythm of music-making. Donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1943 as a WPA gift, it now resides in the Drawings and Prints department, preserving a snapshot of 1930s American life. This work resonates culturally as part of the WPA's legacy in American Scene printmaking, celebrating ordinary subjects like musicians who provided solace during tough times. Visitors will appreciate its modest scale—fitting neatly on a sheet of 12 × 10¼ inches—and the way it evokes the era's resilient spirit through simple, evocative imagery.

About the Artist

Fred Becker|WPA (American| ) · 1913 | –2004 |

American, Oakland, California 1913–2004 Amherst, Massachusetts|