Golden Gate Bridge 1934, Ray Strong oil on canvas, 44 1/8 x 71 3/4 in. (112.0 x 182.3 cm.) Smithsonian American Art Museum

Valley Farms 1934 Ross Dickinson

From the collection at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC: Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Date of Work: 1933 Artist: Edward Jean Steichen

The Civil Works Administration was established by the New Deal during the Great Depression to create jobs for millions of unemployed. The jobs were merely temporary, for the duration of the hard winter. Harry L. Hopkins was put in charge of the organization. US President Franklin D.

The Public Works of Art Project was a program to employ artists, as part of the New Deal, during the Great Depression. It was the first such program, running from December 1933 to June 1934.

The Public Works of Art Project helped artists across the country, providing monetary support in depicting the American experience. Explore the national reach of this program through this interactive map!

Magazine article published in 1934 describing the PWAP.

The Launching n.d. Harry Gottlieb color lithograph 13 1/4 x 17 1/2 in. (33.5 x 44.6 cm) Smithsonian American Art Museum Transfer from D.C. Public Library View works by Harry Gottlieb in the collection of the American Art Museum.

Filling the Ice House 1934, Harry Gottlieb oil on canvas 40 3/8 x 60 3/8 in. (102.5 x 153.4 cm) Smithsonian American Art Museum Transfer from the U.S. Department of Labor 1964.1.19 As workers like these knew well, it was cold, hard work filling the icehouses of upstate New York. In January 1934, artist Harry Gottlieb signed on with the PWAP and looked for American workers he could paint near his home in the artists' colony of Woodstock, New York.

At Madrid Coal Mine, New Mexico 1934, Carl Redin oil on canvas 30 x 38 in. (76.2 x 96.5 cm) Smithsonian American Art Museum Transfer from the U.S. Department of Labor 1964.1.166 The men of Madrid, New Mexico, went to work every day in these hulking, rusty buildings that led to the coal mines of the Albuquerque and Cerrillos Coal Company. Artist Carl Redin specialized in painting picturesque New Mexico landscapes, but to find "the American Scene" requested by the PWAP, he turned to the mines of Madrid.

A coal breaker processes raw chunks of mined coal and breaks them into various sizes useful for different types of furnaces.

River Front 1934, Saul Berman oil on canvas 16 x 24 in. (40.7 x 61.1 cm.) Smithsonian American Art Museum Transfer from the U.S. Department of Labor 1964.1.169 Saul Berman's detailed, reportorial painting shows workers busily clearing snow from the New York Navy Yard during the challenging winter of 1933–1934. Piles of timbers recall the fleets of sailing and steamships built by these shipyards on the East River in Brooklyn for the United States Navy and for commercial use since the eighteenth century.

The National Recovery Administration (NRA) was a New Deal agency in the United States.

Gold Is Where You Find It 1934, Tyrone Comfort oil on canvas, 40 1/8 x 50 1/8 in. (101.9 x 127.3 cm.) Smithsonian American Art Museum Transfer from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service

Snow Shovellers 1934,Jacob Getlar Smith oil on canvas 29 7/8 x 40 1/8 in. (76.0 x 101.9 cm.) Smithsonian American Art Museum Transfer from the U.S. Department of Labor 1964.1.22 Many artists went out into the cold to find subjects after the PWAP began in December 1933. Jacob Getlar Smith found men hired by the government’s new work relief program, the Civil Works Administration, to shovel snow from the streets and park paths of New York.

Tenement Flats 1933-1934, Millard Sheets oil on canvas 40 1/4 x 50 1/4 in. (102.1 x 127.6 cm.) Smithsonian American Art Museum Transfer from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service 1965.18.48 Millard Sheets, an up-and-coming young California artist, enjoyed drawing and painting the people and houses of this colorful neighborhood.

Festival 1934 Daniel Celentano oil on canvas mounted on fiberboard 48 1/8 x 60 1/8 in. (122.3 x 152.8 cm.) Smithsonian American Art Museum Transfer from the U.S. Department of Labor 1964.1.55

Achelous and Hercules 1947, Thomas Hart Benton Thomas Hart Benton was an important artist and prominent teacher in 20th century American Art. His influence can be felt in Daniel Celentano's painting Festival featured in this exhibition. See more of Benton's art work in the permanent collection at the American Art Museum.

The Gas House Gang in New York City.

Subway 1934, Lily Furedi oil on canvas, 39 x 48 1/4 in. (99.1 x 122.6 cm.) Smithsonian American Art Museum Transfer from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service In this painting Lily Furedi boldly did something that few dare to do: she looked at people on the subway. She took the viewpoint of a seated rider gazing down the car at her fellow passengers.

Skating in Central Park 1934, Agnes Tait oil on canvas, 33 3/4 x 48 in. (85.8 x 121.8 cm) Smithsonian American Art Museum Transfer from the U.S. Department of Labor 1964.1.15 Agnes Tait had long wanted to make a large, festive painting of winter revelers in Central Park, but without a patron she could not take on this project. When the Public Works of Art Project gave her support in the winter of 1933–1934, the artist had her opportunity.

Central Park 1934, Carl Gustaf Nelson oil on canvas, 31 7/8 x 44 in. (81.0 x 111.8 cm.) Smithsonian American Art Museum Transfer from the U.S. Department of Labor 1964.1.119 Central Park in New York City has inspired generations of artists concerned with the American experience. See more works inspired by Central Park at the American Art Museum.

There is much more to learn and experience from the exhibition. Contribute your images and stories from 1934 to our Flickr group!