Maryland Crab Pickers

1935

black-and-white lithograph

11 ⅝” x 14 ¾” plate

Blue crabs are a staple food in Maryland, especially on the Eastern Shore. The Latin name for blue crab is Callinectes Sapidus, which translates to “beautiful swimmer that is savory''. True to the name, blue crabs have a delicious meat that is often enjoyed during the summer months in Maryland. Harvesting, or “picking” the meat is difficult and tedious because the shells are hard to crack open and the sharp shells can cut. It takes skill and patience. This highly specialized work was and still is a common occupation on the Eastern Shore, especially for migratory, seasonal workers. This lithograph shows a group of robust and hard working women in a communal setting of labor. This process has changed little since the time of Ruth Starr Rose.