Shoe Shine Boy

The Works of Joe R. Villarreal

Joe R. Villarreal (American, b. 1953)
Shoe Shine Boy
Oil on canvas
Signed and copyrighted, l.r.
40 x 30 inches 

As a student, at Fox Tech High School in downtown San Antonio, Villarreal recalls walking across the Navarro Street bridge. He is startled by a tugging of his pants.  Sitting on the bridge, atop his shoe shine box, is a young boy.  He looks up hopefully, “Shine?”  In those days a shine would cost 5¢.

That memory from the early 1960’s of a little boy counting his well-earned nickels continued to haunt the artist. Years later, he was able to depict the hardworking child with the dignity, which he deserved.