My old teacher once said, nobody draws a chair like Ben Shahn.
- Richard Merkin, RISD 1985
Ben Shahn
- Richard Merkin, RISD 1985
Ben Shahn
American, born Lithuania.
1898–1969
ABOUT
Ben Shahn was born in Lithuania in 1898 into a family of Jewish craftsmen. His father’s anti-czarist activities forced the family to immigrate to the United States in 1906. Shahn grew up in a working class neighborhood in Brooklyn. He became an
apprentice in a Manhattan lithographic firm, finishing high school at night and
later taking classes at New York University, City College of New York, and the
National Academy of Design. Shahn saw his art as a means to combat injustice
and raise social awareness.
Throughout his career Shahn’s style retained the linear bias of a master draughtsman, which proved to be effective in his satirical depictions of social types. He had his first solo exhibition at the Downtown Gallery in 1930, and his series of paintings of the trial and execution of the anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti established his reputation and led to further explorations of trials with political implications.
Throughout his career Shahn’s style retained the linear bias of a master draughtsman, which proved to be effective in his satirical depictions of social types. He had his first solo exhibition at the Downtown Gallery in 1930, and his series of paintings of the trial and execution of the anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti established his reputation and led to further explorations of trials with political implications.
Ben and his wife Bernarda
Shahn's studio, present day.
At the height of his career Shahn was suddenly branded as a Communist by the various organizations and was completely blacklisted in the field and never received another freelance job assignment again. Not only did he face F.B.I. questioning and the House Un-American Activities Committee in the McCarthy period, he was also blackballed by the ascendant formalist criticism taking hold of the art world, with Clement Greenberg leading the attack.( These allegations were proven false, but the damage was already done ) Struggling to make a living, he concentrated his work toward galleries and began receiving numerous religious commissions including stain glass window projects from temples and synagogues across and country.
Shahn stayed active until the very end of his career becoming a distinguished lecturer, teacher, and writer. He died in New York in 1969.
At the height of his career Shahn was suddenly branded as a Communist by the various organizations and was completely blacklisted in the field and never received another freelance job assignment again. Not only did he face F.B.I. questioning and the House Un-American Activities Committee in the McCarthy period, he was also blackballed by the ascendant formalist criticism taking hold of the art world, with Clement Greenberg leading the attack.( These allegations were proven false, but the damage was already done ) Struggling to make a living, he concentrated his work toward galleries and began receiving numerous religious commissions including stain glass window projects from temples and synagogues across and country.
Shahn stayed active until the very end of his career becoming a distinguished lecturer, teacher, and writer. He died in New York in 1969.
One of Shahn's stained glass windows
Shahn in his studio c. 1950's
Jonathan Shahn
( Ben's son) in his studio, present day
hand mixed colors by Shahn in his studio.
Shahn's bedroom, present day. Furniture + interiors designed by artist and good friend George Nakashima.
The Shahns surrounded themselves with lively collections: Indian illuminated manuscripts, ancient classical statues and 20th-century works by their friends, including the artists Robert Rauschenberg and Jacob Lawrence and the woodworker George Nakashima.
read this book!
{for Goldy and Martha E.
two fabulous artists!}
Thanks for all the amazing work BS.
two fabulous artists!}
Thanks for all the amazing work BS.
CHEERS!
