- On View
- Cultural Expressions Gallery
- Museum Maps
- Objects in this Location
- Exhibition
- Cultural Expressions
- Created by
- Biggers, John, American, 1924 - 2001
- Printed by
- Hand Graphics, American, founded 1974
- Date
- 1984
- Medium
- lithographic ink on Arches (TM) paper
- Dimensions
- framed: 47 1/2 x 35 1/2 x 1 3/8 in. (120.7 x 90.2 x 3.5 cm)
- H x W (unframed): 42 x 29 11/16 in. (106.7 x 75.4 cm)
- Description
- A color lithograph print on cream-colored Arches paper titled Upper Room by John Biggers. The print's image is focused on three women with their backs toward the viewer. The woman on the left carries on her back a tall trellis structure, with a plant interwoven among the lattice. At the top of the trellis, two figures stand, their arms raised to each hold up a peaked roof. The woman's hands rest on the back of the woman at the center of the print. She and the third woman are holding up a small house, with the structure resting on their heads. The front of the house is open and inside a table is visible in front of a bed and curtained window. Two chairs stand on either side of the opening into the bedroom, and a horseshoe is nailed above. At the top of the peaked roof is a small tower with a bell. To the right side of the print, is a tree with bare branches crossed by lines of ropes or wires. Below the tree, are two kettles and eight chickens moving up and away from the women towards the top of the tree. Three upturned kettles rest on the very top of the tree's branches, with a bird rising in flight. Above and behind the scene is the night sky, with shooting stars moving from left to right, forming the big dipper in front of a crescent moon. Within the dipper formed by the stars, a wooden or gourd dipper is upturned, appearing to pour light down onto the kettles and tree. At the bottom left is the edition [26/75] and title ["Upper Room"]. At the bottom right is the artist's signature with date [John Biggers 1984].
- Place printed
- Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Visual Arts
- Type
- color lithographs
- Topic
- American South
- Art
- Domestic life
- Families
- Social reform
- Spirituality
- Women
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Object number
- 2007.6.2
- Restrictions & Rights
- © Artists Rights Society
- Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.