Workers in the cold and the snow

Hard labours of workers under the snow.

In the moderate parts of the country, it seems to us normal to see working workers under the sun, even if the temperature rises to 86 °F in the shade (104 °F in the sun).

On the other hand we are rather little used to seeing these working directly under snow with temperatures coming down between 5 °F and 0 °F, except of course sometimes in mountain, although these temperatures are there rarer

Here is thus a worker kicking away the snow in front of the statue in the casual look of the dandy and the Lettish painter Karlis Padegs (sculpture of Andris Varpa).
Contrast enters this worker kicking away the snow (a bread job, essential doubtless to live) and the stature of this intellectual whose acts addressed especially the spirit.
We can think that this photo presents two face set by the human activities, but also....

... that these activities form a whole.
In fact Karlis Padegs was able to dedicate its life to be painted because existed workers such this one, and this worker is doubtless proud of his Latvia which can be proud of having seen being born this artist, and which, maybe likes or could like its paintings.

And more low, another look on the hard work in these countries in harsh winter,
... two workers working on the iron framework of concrete walls.
It made near 0 °F these days there, the location of Riga near the sea allowing that falls snow even in times of strong frost.
... and where we can find a real beauty in this iron framework in the regular structure, the fruit of a done well work, and a certain admiration for these men (and these women) knowing how to continue their labour under such conditions.

What we said in 1690 in the dictionary of Furetiere :

WORKER. Craftsman who works on some work. Here is a workshop where there is quantity of workers, masons, painters, joiners, &c. This Carpenter always has thirty workers or companions who work in its construction work. This Watchmaker is an excellent worker. These flaps are made by the hand of the good worker, who takes an ecu of the way of the part. Most of the inhabitants of Touraine are silk workers; those of Lyon in cloth, &c.
Worker, says himself in moral things. When we see the Sky and the celestial bodies, we see good that it is the big Worker who made them. Here is an anonymous Book which leaves the hand of a worker. Jesus Christ said that the harvest was big, but that there were few workers, by speaking about the Evangelic preaching.
We call up days labor, otherwise working days, in the daytime when it is not holiday, where it is allowed to work and to open shops. .
We call the kingpin of a coach, a big iron ankle which joins the front train to the arrow.
We say proverbially, It is a worker, to say, he is alert, and skillful, he gets along well the business.
And on the contrary we say ironically, that it is a pleasant worker, to say, a pleasant man, who understands nothing in the business about which we speak to him.

Water carrier of the XVIIIth
Paris through centuries - Gourdon de Genouillac 1882
Not completely a 'worker' in the current sense of the term

A more complete article of dictionary of 1867 for the Labor term, in the page in French

Of Riga, in these mini-series of photos of the week, see also :

• Winter fishing under the ice
• Hungry cats and pigeons under the snow
• Sun as one i on a bridge
• Child of sand sleeping on the sand of Riga
• Collection of dead leaves and the competitiveness
• Discreet tracks on fine sand
• Floral wreaths in the feast of St John
• Magic colored with some Baltic tissues