Proletarian Nudes is a study of the ubiquitous Chinese house mop. Whether posed against walls, hanging from windows or resting in buckets, Broz reveals the mops’ subtle beauty by capturing a range of muted colors, faded patterns, various textures and assorted materials. Anthropomorphizing the mops, Broz transforms these humble household tools into meditative and unexpectedly dignified portraits, allowing each subject to tell its own unique story of hardship and grace. By observing Chinese attitudes toward mops from the perspective of a Western outsider, Broz highlights the contrast between America’s wasteful fixation with disposability and China’s respectful reuse of even the most modest resources. Proletarian Nudes examines China’s approach to labor and the conservation of its assets as the country transitions from an agrarian to an industrial to a service economy.

(to see the larger pool of images from which I selected the final 12, go here)

Pricing Structure for Proletarian Nudes

33.33cm x 50cm (13in x 19.6in), edition of 5 (+1AP), starts at $700

Prints 1-2 at $700

Prints 3-4 at $800

Print 5 at $1000

50.8cm x 76.2cm (20in x 30in), edition of 5 (+1AP), starts at $1000

Prints 1-2 at $1000

Prints 3-4 at $1200

Print 5 at $1500