© Josef Herman estate

Josef Herman discovered his mature artistic voice when first visiting the Welsh village of Ystradgynlais in the summer of 1944. There he was captivated by the simple dignity of the miners which provided him inspiration for the next eleven years he spent living in the village. This quickly executed drawing represents his ongoing fascination with the working class. Depicting people he knew closely without any distinguishing features, Herman progressed from illustrating a specific subject to universality. He reduces his figures to mere outlines and shadows, keeping only some significant details – headscarves, hats – while depriving them of their context. The figures are sitting in groups of three: the women close together and facing front as if in a discussion, the men turning their backs and keeping distance while resting. This pair of pictures can be taken as a representation of the contrasting ideas of closeness and isolation, tension and idleness.