Work with Care — Nathan Sherman, 1936

Work with Care is Nathan Sherman’s dynamic 1936 WPA workplace-safety poster, combining fragmented typography with an abstract arrangement of mechanical forms. Black, red, pale blue, gray and cream sweep across the composition in intersecting curves, circles and angular structures, creating a strong impression of industrial movement.

Produced in Pennsylvania by the Federal Art Project, the poster encouraged safety in the workplace. Sherman makes the message itself part of the design: the large cream letters of “Work with Care” tilt, overlap and move in different directions through the surrounding geometry. Speckled areas and irregular edges retain the visual character of the original color silkscreen, giving this practical safety message an unusually energetic and experimental graphic treatment.

Artwork Details

• Artist: Nathan Sherman
• Title: Work with Care
• Original title: Work with care
• Series: Work Projects Administration Poster Collection
• Date: 1936
• Period: 1930s / WPA Era
• Place of Origin: Pennsylvania, United States
• Medium: Silkscreen in color

Framed Print Details

• Fine art printing: Professional 12-color fine art printing technology produces vivid, accurate colors with strong tonal depth and significantly greater nuance than standard 4-color inkjet printing.
• Paper: Smooth premium matte paper with a clean, glare-free finish.
• Paper weight: 200 gsm (80 lb).
• Paper thickness: 0.26 mm (10.3 mils).
• Frame material: Durable pine wood.
• Frame dimensions: Approximately 20 mm (0.79 in) deep and 10–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide.
• Protection: Shatterproof plexiglass protects the print while keeping the framed artwork lightweight.
• Ready to hang: A hanging kit is included, allowing the framed print to be mounted directly on the wall.
• Available sizes: Offered in a range of sizes to suit different spaces.
• Materials: Printed using FSC-certified paper and wood where available.
• Production: Each framed print is produced to order through a trusted international network of professional print studios.
• Shipping: Worldwide shipping is available.
• Made to order: There is no minimum order quantity. Each piece is printed and assembled on demand, reducing unnecessary stock and waste.

Exact frame dimensions, component availability, and production specifications may vary slightly depending on the selected size and destination.