6x24 inches
acrylic, watercolor paper, kraft paper on stained maple panel
$495

The Jobs of Yesteryear series combines history and surrealism to tell the stories of obsolete jobs. A contemporary glimpse into the past, these mixed-media paintings serve as a reminder of a time and stories long forgotten.

This particular Job of Yesteryear mixed media painting features a librarian. Since ancient times, librarians have been employed as keepers of information. From Ancient Sumeria and Mesopotamia to the Great Library of Alexandria, librarians took care of and disseminated the vast collection of tablets and scrolls that these civilizations held. Public libraries were introduced by the Roman Empire, which greatly increased access to the information they held. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Christian monks became the de facto librarians, and they also oversaw the copying of books cover to cover. Modern librarians continue as the keepers of knowledge, with technology helping to catalogue and navigate the vast stores as well as offer access to the world wide web to its patrons.

The Librarian III was created with acrylic paint, and the long-limbed character was cut from paper and collaged with kraft paper. The Jobs of Yesteryear are thought-provoking conversation pieces that will bring an air of history and whimsy to any room.