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Man Power by William Zorach
Photo CreditCarol M. Highsmith Photography
Man Power
Photo CreditCarol M. Highsmith Photography

Man Power

Year1939
Classification sculpture
Medium laquered teak wood
Dimensions8 ft. 2 in. × 37 5/8 × 3 1/2 in. (248.9 × 95.6 × 8.9 cm)
Credits Public Works of Art Project, 1933 - 1934
Fine Arts Collection
U.S. General Services Administration


  • Man Power represents the role of manual labor in the development of family and civilization.  Standing before the Norris Dam, the figure symbolizes human efforts in the development of this country.   In 1935, Zorach expressed his support of the FAP/WPA in a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt stating that:  "A most important thing to come out of this [is] the removal of art from the artificial centers . . . and the making of it a part of the expression of life of small communities and towns throughout the country."