In Focus: The Cohen Building Murals

Seymour Fogel’s murals The Wealth of the Nation and The Security of the People were created for the Social Security Building, now known as the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building in Washington, D.C. Positioned within the building’s entrance areas, these works reflect central New Deal themes, economic stability, collective responsibility, and the dignity of labor. Created during Fogel’s social realist period, the murals reflect the movement’s emphasis on labor and collective life, while also demonstrating his distinctive sense of structure, balance, and compositional clarity.

The Wealth of the Nation (1938)
Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building

A companion piece to Security of the People, also commissioned in 1941 and located in the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building. This mural celebrates the strength of America’s economy and labor force. It features imagery of industrial progress, agriculture, and scientific advancement, symbolizing the productivity and innovation that underpin the nation’s prosperity.

Today, the Cohen Building has become the focus of concern due to potential plans for sale or redevelopment, raising important questions about the preservation of the historic artworks it contains. In light of this, it felt especially fitting to begin our “In Focus” series with these murals works that are not only foundational to Fogel’s career, but also part of a broader national legacy that warrants careful stewardship.

The Security of the People (1938)
Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building

A prominent New Deal-era mural, commissioned in 1941 through the Section of Fine Arts. It is located in the lobby of the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building—formerly the Social Security Administration Building—in Washington, D.C. The mural depicts an American family surrounded by symbols of physical and intellectual well-being, embodying the core values and aspirations of the Social Security program.

The Seymour Fogel Art Estate has been in direct contact with officials at the General Services Administration (GSA), the agency responsible for the care and stewardship of the artworks within the building. We appreciate their responsiveness and engagement and remain committed to staying closely involved as the situation evolves.