Harry Gottlieb was an artist whose career flourished under the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a New Deal program aimed at providing employment for artists during the Great Depression. As part of the WPA's Federal Art Project, Gottlieb created numerous prints and murals that depicted scenes of everyday American life with a focus on social realism. His artwork often portrayed urban landscapes, industrial scenes, and portraits of ordinary people, reflecting both the challenges and resilience of the era.

Gottlieb's involvement with the WPA allowed him to experiment with various printmaking techniques, including lithography and woodcuts, which he used to convey powerful narratives and evoke empathy from viewers. His prints from this period are characterized by their bold compositions, expressive use of color, and poignant depiction of working-class individuals. Today, Harry Gottlieb's WPA prints are valued not only for their artistic merit but also for their historical documentation of American society during a time of profound economic and social change.