By Juan Fuentes

Medium: linocut
Year: 2015
Image Size: 18 x 24 inches
Edition size: 20

Juan Fuentes’ Bracero Brothers pays tribute to the Mexican laborers whose work under the 1942–1964 Bracero Program sustained U.S. agriculture while leaving lasting personal and cultural impacts. Drawn from Fuentes’ own childhood in the farm labor camps of California, the linocut depicts a line of workers receiving their meager rations after long hours in the fields. The rhythmic carving, bold contrasts, and expressive faces convey both exhaustion and dignity, reflecting Fuentes’ lifelong commitment to art as a vehicle for social justice. Rooted in lived experience and collective memory, the image honors the resilience of workers whose contributions have too often been forgotten.