Earle Richardson (1912-1935) was an African American artist of New York City. He was trained at the National Academy of Design and worked for the U.S. Government during the Depression. He is best known for this painting. It is a design masterpiece with an unremarkable title. In this composition, lines of crops, fabric and shadows pull our eyes through the space and rich colors. It portrays movement, determination and strength in the workers that command the format and the field. They seem to accomplish a legacy task with the freshness that comes from believing it is temporary. They majestically imply moving on even as ghosts must haunt the crop rows.

Earle Richardson painted young, powerful and undefeated workers. He painted a people whose time would come. Sadly he took his own life before it did.

We give thanks for artists who find and share beauty, hope and faith even as the darkness may gather around them. We thank them for sharing their good gifts and we thank God, the giver of all.

In gratitude, faith and hope,