American Workman

American Workman presents a comprehensive, novel reassessment of the life and work of one of Americas most influential self-taught artists, John Kane. With a full account of Kanes life as a working man, including his time as a steelworker, coal miner, street paver, and commercial painter in and around Pittsburgh in the early twentieth century, the authors explore how these occupations shaped his development as an artist and his breakthrough success in the modern art world. A rough-and-tumble blue-collar man prone to brawling and drinking, Kane also sought out beauty in the industrial world he inhabited. This Kane paradoxbrawny and tough, sensitive and creativewas at the heart of much of the publics interest in Kane as a person. The allure of the Kane saga was heightened all the more by the fact that he did not achieve renown until he was at the age at which most people are retiring from their professions. Kanes dedication to painting resulted in a fascinating body of work that has ended up in some of Americas most important museums and private collections. His dramatic life story demonstrates the courage, strength, and creativity of his generation of workmen. They may be long gone, but thanks to Kane they cannot be forgotten.