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| Under the Influence of Ben Shahn by Martha Slavin |
Ben Shahn, one of my favorites, lived through the prime existential moments of the twentieth century (1898 to 1969). He expressed his feelings and opinions through his art. He was both admired and persecuted for what he drew.
Shahn, born in Lithuania, emigrated with his family to the United States to join his father who had escaped from a Siberian work camp. After being bullied in school, Shahn turned to art to express his passion for justice. His topics ranged from the Sacco-Vanzetti trial (two immigrants who probably were wrongly accused of murder and executed), admiration for President Lincoln, the importance of registering to vote, support for unions, Eugene McCarthy's Peace run for the Presidency, and to more whimsical subjects as a little boy on a bicycle. In the 1940s and '50s, he was hounded by the FBI for the images and sayings in his paintings. He was threatened with deportation because his depiction of immigrants, workers, and civil rights issues did not illustrate "America the Beautiful."
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| Sacco & Vanzetti poster by Ben Shahn (National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.) |
It is fitting that his alphabet design and his graphic style have become popular again in our anxious times. Recently, Cynthia Levinson wrote a children's book about Ben Shahn, titled The People's Painter, How Ben Shahn Fought for Justice with Art with illustrations done in Shahn's style by Evan Tuck. She describes his life and work and relates what Shahn once told Tomie de Paola, another well-known children's book author/illustrator. Shahn said,
"Being an artist is not only what you do, but also how you live your life."
To order the book by Cynthia Levinson, go to:
While you are visiting Bookshop.org, place an order for Maus, A Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman
Both books are on backorder, but your purchase at this site will help independent book stores all over the country and make a stand against banning books.
Read more about Ben Shahn here:
From Letty by email: What a story Shaun has lived, survived and then still able to create his beliefs and stories on canvas. I belief the Red Stairway most intrigued me, and the Allegory I found the most unsettling.
ReplyDeleteThank you for introducing me to yet another unknown but outstanding painter.
Thanks for reading my post, Letty. I'm glad you are intrigued with Ben Shahn. He is a fascinating artist and person. The Red Stairway is one of his most well-known and complex.
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