Las Campesinas

Emmanuel C. Montoya

Emmanuel Montoya pays tribute to one of his home state's most essential workforces: the agricultural laborers of California. Four figures in overalls, brimmed hats, and protective layers stand side by side as they await their next haul, the stark black and white composition echoing the powerful broadleaf illustrations of Jose Posada.

From vegetables to vineyards, campesinos work long hours in all weather to bring the celebrated bounty of the West to the table. Today, this includes working in hazardous conditions as the weather becomes increasingly unreliable and extreme. Low pay and healthcare disputes are often disregarded as many workers are undocumented - this despite the glaring irony of what would happen to the world's fifth largest economy without them. Emmanuel Montoya aims, as he often does, to portray the strength and dignity of these often overlooked workforces.