Skinning Poles

Art Historical Context

**Skinning Poles** (1936) is a compelling drawing by Louis Rayn, now housed in the Smithsonian American Museum's collection. Transferred from the General Services, this work captures a stark, unadorned scene of male laborers engaged in the physically demanding task suggested by its title—likely skinning animals suspended on poles. The "plain" aesthetic highlighted in its tags underscores a direct, no-frills portrayal of everyday toil, emphasizing the raw reality of manual work without romanticization. during the Great Depression era the artwork reflects the era's focus on American labor and ...