Joseph the Carpenter by Arnold Friberg

Arnold Friberg (American, 1913–2010)
Joseph the Carpenter
Graphite on paper
5 × 7 in.

This expressive study depicts Joseph bent over his workbench, absorbed in the quiet labor of carpentry. Friberg constructs the figure through vigorous, overlapping strokes, allowing the form to emerge from a dense field of graphite. The downward tilt of Joseph’s head and the weight of his posture suggest concentration, humility, and physical endurance. Tools scattered across the foreground are loosely indicated rather than fully described, reinforcing the sense that this is a moment observed rather than staged. The darkened background presses inward, focusing attention on the figure’s hands and shoulders and lending the scene a solemn, contemplative mood.

Arnold Friberg was an American painter best known for his dramatic religious and historical imagery, particularly works associated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Educated at the Art Students League of New York, he brought academic rigor to subjects drawn from scripture and history, emphasizing heroic scale and emotional clarity. Friberg’s drawings, such as this study, reveal the structural and psychological foundations of his larger compositions, demonstrating his ability to convey character and spiritual weight through economy of line.