trouble

This week's Illustration Friday topic has inspired me to re-photograph a couple of paintings that are several years old. (Even at 8:00 am on a murky morning I got better results than the originals.) These are from a series of paintings based on hobo signs that I started but never completed, in spite of good intentions. Of the four paintings these are the two that communicate 'trouble.' They are only 11" x 14".

Between the 1880s and World War II, North American hoboes rode the rails, lived off the land and the charity of others, worked where and when they wanted, and went in whichever direction the wind blew. This subculture of wanderers communicated with each other through a system of simple markings, usually made with chalk or coal, on buildings, trestles, bridge abutments, fences, posts, and railroad equipment. The information usually consisted of warnings or places to get work, food or a bed. Hoboes also used their own vocabulary of slang terms, many of which have entered the common lexicon.

The top painting is called Danger, after the patterned background of markings. The other markings are a triangle with arms which means 'man with gun,' an enclosed squiggle under it which means 'bad-tempered owner,' and a four-footed symbol repeated twice which stands for 'bad dog.'


This one is called Hold Your Tongue, again after the symbol repeated in the sky. The double circle means 'hoboes arrested on sight,' the double diamonds mean 'be quiet,' and the large yellow symbols stand for 'be ready to defend yourself.' More symbols found here.

And finally, Within Without has just posted the video for Peter Gabriel's Don't Give Up, the perfect musical illustration for the theme of trouble. (He's also written a great Thanksgiving post for this holiday weekend.)