Created by
Lawrence, Jacob, American, 1917 - 2000
Printed by
Ives-Sillman, Inc., American, founded 1966
Subject of
Brown, John, American, 1800 - 1859
Date
1977
Medium
linen, mat board
Dimensions
20 x 25 in. (50.8 x 63.5 cm)
Caption
“John Brown worked not simply for Black men—he worked with them; and he was a companion of their daily life, knew their faults and virtues, and felt, as few white Americans have felt, the bitter tragedy of their lot.” —W. E. B. Du Bois, John Brown, 1909
Radical abolitionist John Brown (1800–1859) fought and died for the emancipation of enslaved people. His life as an antislavery advocate and armed insurrectionist who was tried, convicted, and hanged for his rebellion has served as inspiration for numerous artists since his death. However, it would not be until 1941, when Jacob Lawrence created a narrative series of 22 paintings, that Brown’s life was visually documented in its entirety. Between 1974 and 1977, Lawrence recreated his series in print form.
Description
Linen box (artist portfolio). Red outer box (a); blue interior clam shell box (b).
Place printed
New Haven, Connecticut, United States, North and Central America
Place depicted
Charles Town, Virginia, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Written Music
Movement
Abolitionist movement
Type
screen prints
Topic
Antislavery
Art
Resistance
Slavery
U.S. History, 1815-1861
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2007.6.1.23ab
Restrictions & Rights
© 2015 The Jacob and Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence Foundation, Seattle / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd56f814376-28f5-4ae2-9a5e-751891a619fe

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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