Descriptive Summary |
|
| Creator: | Shahn, Ben (1898-1969) |
| Title: | Ben Shahn Estate Collection |
| Dates: |
1931-1991
Bulk undated |
| Quantity: | 7.5 cubic feet consisting of four medium boxes (19.25 x 14.5 x 3.5"), two large boxes (31.5 x 23.5 x 3"), 14 map folders (42 x 32 x 2" in total) and ten rolled works (41.5 x 24.5 x 2" in total). |
| Abstract: | This collection of Ben Shahn's work includes drawings, lettering, posters, prints, proof sheets and other materials. The largest concentrations are in lettering and prints. Other materials, including drawings, photographs of Ben Shahn, cut-outs, drafts and mock-ups, are also included. |
| Collection No.: | GA 19 |
| Language: | English |
| Repository: | Rutgers University Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives |
Ben Shahn, a painter, graphic artist, photographer and educator, lived from 1898 to 1969. His work is eclectic, including painting, mosaics, printmaking and photography. While he also produced commercial work, political posters and lettering, his primary concerns were social justice, religion and philosophy.
Lithuanian by birth, from the city of Kaunas, he arrived in the United States at the age of 8 years. His earliest education centered on study of the Bible. As a teenager, he worked for a lithographer while attending high school. Here, he learned both lithography and lettering, which followed him throughout his career as an artist. He studied at New York University, the National Academy of Design, the Art Students League in New York and City College in New York, graduating in 1924. He continued his artistic education in Europe in 1924, and again for two years from 1927. He was closely tied to the radical artist movement of the time and belonged to the left-leaning Artist’s Union.
In the early 1930s, he assisted Diego Rivera in painting murals at the New York RCA Building in Rockefeller Center and later collaborated with painter Lou Block on a never-painted design for the Penitentiary on Riker’s Island in New York. Like many other artists during the Depression Era, Shahn also worked for the Public Works of Art program and other government agencies. For the Farm Security Administration, he photographed farmers and the rural and urban poor throughout the South and the Midwest. His other government-funded projects in the later 1930s include a mural representing the immigrant experience for the town of Roosevelt, New Jersey, and murals for the Bronx Central Annex Post Office in New York. During World War II, he created posters for the Office of War Information.
His later work included paintings, mosaic murals and stained glass windows, including designs for mosaic and stone tablets and stained glass windows at Temple Beth Zion in Buffalo, NY. He also wrote and illustrated books, including several he wrote himself. Among his own works were an illustrated Haggadah, Ecclesiastes and Alphabet of Creation. He also created prints and posters using illustrated or decorated lettering in both Hebrew and English. His commercial work included advertising, posters, and book, magazine and record covers for such companies as CBS, Time and Harper’s magazines. He also taught throughout the United States, lecturing at Black Mountain Collage, Harvard University, Princeton University and the University of Colorado.
His art was exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Tate in London, Fogg Art Museum, Philadelphia Museum of Art and at galleries, such as Downtown Gallery in New York. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and to the National Institute of Arts and Letters, as well as chosen to represent the United States at the 1954 Venice Bienniale. He received an honorary doctorate from Harvard and Princeton Universities.
He was married to artist Bernarda Bryson and the two often collaborated on their work. Moving to Roosevelt, New Jersey in 1939, they formed the nucleus of an artist’s community that settled there.
The collection includes 415 drawings, posters, prints, proof sheets, and sheets of lettering that touch many of the techniques and themes of Ben Shahn’s artistic output. The largest concentration of work is calligraphy and lettering, primarily drafts of his commercial work, Chinese calligraphy and Hebrew lettering, as well as philosophic and religious quotations. Broadsides, Advertising and Political posters also demonstrate a significant lettering component. A considerable part of the collection includes prints, primarily commercial prints, posters and reproductive prints, with a modest number of lithographs. In this category is a series of prints and blue line prints he made as illustration of the French Dreyfus trial. Many posters were reproductive prints for a Ben Shahn retrospective exhibition held in Japan in 1991. A wide range of drawings is represented, including architectural drawings, designs, drafts, plans and sketches in a variety of media. These include the drawings for his work at Temple Beth Zion and sketches for his painting Liberation, as well as drawings where he used the “pounce” technique to transfer a design from paper to another surface. Photographs of Ben Shahn and of the printing of some of his books are included, as well as negatives and photographic prints of posters or drawings. Proof sheets and drafts of Ben Shahn’s Alphabet of Creation, and signature sheets for an unpublished Hallelujah are included, as well as other mock-ups, stencil cut-outs, and other materials.
Few of the works are dated and most are not identified with titles. An effort was made to identify some of these works, using sources listed in References below. Many elements recur in different works of art created at different times, so positive identification was not always possible. Cross-references indicate many of these related images and designs.
Other material related to Ben Shahn is held in Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University, and can be found in the library catalog.
"The Dreyfus Affair: The Ben Shahn Prints" with Essays, EBTH: Everything but the House. Dreyfus Affair: Ben Shahn Prints. Accessed 10/20/2017.
Ish-Kishor, Sulamith. A Boy of Old Prague. New York: Pantheon Books, 1963.
Newark Public Library, Special Collections Division. Shahn Estate Collection. Accessed 10/20/2017.
Prescott, Kenneth W. The Complete Graphic Works of Ben Shahn. New York: Quadrangle/The New York Times Book Company, 1973.
Shahn, Ben. The Dreyfus Affair. Cincinnati: Crossroads Books, 1984.
Shahn, Ben. Ecclesiastes, or, the Preacher. New York: Grossman and Trianon, 1971.
Shahn, Ben. Haggadah for Passover. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1965.
Shahn, Ben. Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Busch-Reisinger Museum, Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Ben Shahn. Accessed 10/20/2017.
Shahn, Ben. Levana and Our Ladies of Sorrow Portfolio. New York: Philip van Doren Stern, 1931.
Shahn, Ben. Love and Joy about Letters. New York: Grossman Publishers, 1963.
Shahn, Ben. Museum of Modern Art, New York. Ben Shahn. Accessed 10/20/2017.
Soby, James Thrall. Ben Shahn: His Graphic Art. New York: G. Braziller, 1963.
Soby, James Thrall. Ben Shahn Paintings. New York: G. Braziller, [1963].
In this finding aid, the collection has been arranged in seven series, representing the different types of works represented here: Broadsides, Advertising and Political Posters, Calligraphy, Drawings, Photographs, Posters (Reproductive Prints), Prints and Other Material. Note that there is considerable overlap in Shahn's work between these categories, given the lettering and pictorial components that are combined in much of his work. Because of the varied types and sizes of the material, items are housed physically according to size and fragility. Below are the series and the locations where they may be found. Please note special conditions for oversized and fragile works.
• Broadsides, Advertising and Political Posters (Boxes 3 and 4, and an oversized Drawer. See note below on oversized works)
• Calligraphy and Lettering (Boxes 1, 3, and 4, and an oversized Drawer. See note below on oversized works)
• Drawings (Boxes 1 - 4, and an oversized Drawer. Some works not available. See note below on oversized and fragile works)
• Photographs, Negatives and Transparencies (Boxes 1, 3, 4 and an oversized Drawer. See note below on oversized works)
• Posters (Reproductive Prints) (Box 5)
• Prints (Boxes 1 – 3, and 5)
• Other Material (Boxes 2, 3, 3a, 5 and an oversized Drawer. See note below on oversized works)
NOTE: Printed and digital images are available for oversized works. Because of the size of these works and the potential for damage in handling, we ask that researchers use the printed and digital versions where possible. Many oversized items cannot be shown to scholars because of their fragile state. Printed and digital images are also available for these items, subject to copyright restrictions. Printed images are located in each series in the folder titled Printed Images of Digitized (Lettering, Drawings, Photographs, Other Material, etc.). Digital images are housed on the local drive in Rutgers University Special Collections and University Archives. Digital and print images are identified by an associated Rutgers "Ben Shahn" number.
Bernarda Bryson Shahn Etchings
Borough of Roosevelt Historical Collection
Winifred Milius Lubell Collection
Researchers can facilitate access to related materials in other collections by searching the Rutgers University Libraries' online public catalog and other union catalogs under the following index terms used for people, organizations, and subjects represented in these records.
The Ben Shahn Estate Collection (GA 19), Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries.
The Ben Shahn Estate Collection was donated to the library by Jonathan and Jean Shahn.
There were a number of conservation issues to be addressed in processing this collection. Many prints, drawings and mark-ups
are on heavily foxed paper, with substantial mold smell. Most have been vacuumed and all were placed in microchamber folders,
many with microchamber interleaving to mitigate residual mold. Another conservation issue was that many works were stored
tightly rolled. Where possible, these have been flattened. Many torn items have been repaired with Japanese paper and methyl
cellulose. Some fragile works have been encapsulated in polyester or supported with corrugated board. Architectural drawings
and other prints that were made with an acidic process have been placed in neutral housing, either polyester or microchamber
Silversafe®. When multiple copies of a print were available, three copies were retained.
Each piece of original artwork, which includes cut-outs, drawings, lettering, paste-ups, has been given an individual Rutgers Ben Shahn identification number. Numbers are written in pencil on the upper right hand corner of the verso, or the nearest clear surface that would not interfere with the artwork or the integrity of the paper. Oversized prints also have an identifying Ben Shahn number. The identifiers indicate location, folder and item. Examples and explanations of these identifying numbers follows:
Ben Shahn 4-3a
This work is in Box 4, Folder 3, and is the first item in that folder.
Ben Shahn D1-6638
This work is an oversized work located in a Drawer, Folder 1, and is the item identified as 6638.
Ben Shahn NA 6642-6643
This work is fragile and not available for viewing. The two number indentifier, 6642-6643, indicates that the work was too
large to be photographed in one image. Thus, there is one work of art, with two digital and two print images that encompass
two different parts of the work.
Additional works were added to the collection after processing was complete. This largely extended the Broadsides, Advertising
and Political Posters holdings, as well as those of Posters and Prints. This accrual was integrated into the existing order
of the Finding Aid.
This section provides descriptions of the materials found within each series. Each series description is followed by a list,
which details the individual folders and their locations in the numbered boxes that comprise this collection.
| BROADSIDES, ADVERTISING AND POLITICAL POSTERS | |||||||||||
| Summary:This series consists of 27 pieces. The works are primarily illustrated text making an advertisement or statement, as opposed
to those categorized as posters or prints, which are primarily pictorial. The series also includes works that could be classified
as political posters. Arrangement, for this listing, is alphabetical by the first words of the text. Physical arrangement
is by size, then alphabetically by the first words of the text. Broadsides, Advertising and Political Posters are found in
Boxes 3 and 4 and in the oversized Drawer, Folder 15. For the large and unwieldy works, digital images are available, subject
to copyright restrictions. |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 1 | “Atelier Mourlot” [1968] | |||||||||
|
Advertising poster. Man’s face, represented by outlined nose, eyes and partial mouth in black, on
a background of gray birds and wings. Text advertising Atelier Mourlot, with its address. “©Atelier Mourlot Ltd”. Signature
lower right, above text. Graphite note on verso “p 195”. |
|||||||||||
| 71 x 53.3 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 1 | “Ben Shahn, Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University” [1956] | |||||||||
| Three copies. |
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| 26.8 x 35.8 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| Drawer | 15 | “Ben Shahn" (1968) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn D15-6964a-c Exhibition poster for Ben Shahn Exhibition at the Kennedy Galleries. “Ben Shahn” above, gallery information below. Outlined boy doing a handstand, upside down on the handle bars of a tricycle. Signature lower right. Three copies. These sheets are available, but the folder is large and awkward. If possible, please see digital image rather than original. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
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| 6964a: 90 x 62 cm 6964b-c: 92.2 x 62.5 cm |
|||||||||||
| 15 | “Ben Shahn Graphics" [1967] | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn D15-6965 Exhibition poster for the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Stylized head and torso of a man in pastel color blocks, pink, brown, green, outlined in black. Signature lower right. Caption “Copyright 1967 Poster Originals, Limited, No. 65”. Similar to Untitled figure from Ecclesiastes, Box 3, Folder 26. This sheet is available, but the folder is large and awkward. If possible, please see digital image rather than original. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
|||||||||||
| 110.5 x 76.5 cm | |||||||||||
| 15 | “For All These Rights We’ve Just Begun to Fight” [1946] | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn D15-6966 Broadside political poster. CIO (Congress of Industrial Organizations) political voter registration reproductive print. Man holding colored banners with lists of rights above test “Register Vote”. Logo between words “CIO Political Action Committee”. Logo lower right “S.A. No.1 New York Union Label 31. Registered”. This sheet is available, but the folder is large and awkward. If possible, please see digital image rather than original. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
|||||||||||
| 73.7 x 98 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 1 | “God Himself, the Father and Fashioner” [1967] | |||||||||
|
Broadside. Six outlined men’s heads above text quote identified in list accompanying accrual donation
as from Maximus of Tyre. Black. |
|||||||||||
| 67 x 52.5 cm | |||||||||||
| 2 | “He Says No to Civilization and Survival” [1964] | ||||||||||
|
Broadside campaign poster for Lyndon Johnson: "Say No to the No-Sayer Vote Johnson". Sketched caricature
head with glasses [Barry Goldwater] above text. Black lines and text, except word “against”, red in line “He voted against.”
Three copies. |
|||||||||||
| 71.2 x 55.8 cm | |||||||||||
| 2 | “He Says No to Civilization and Survival” [1964] | ||||||||||
|
Broadside campaign poster. Sketched caricature man in glasses [Barry Goldwater], seated and wearing
a diaper, surrounded by text that starts “I Can Tell You One Thing …” Black and gray. Signed in marker or ink and numbered
52/500. |
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| 71.1 x 55.8 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 2 | “Oh Lord our Father, our young patriots” [1964] | |||||||||
| Sketched crowd of suited men with crutches and canes above text. “From ‘The War Prayer’ by Mark Twain. Part of a series of
Messages for Peace.” Three copies. See also, “Oh Lord our Father, our young patriots” in Box 4 Folder 3 and Box 5 Folder 9. |
|||||||||||
| 43 x 27.8 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 3 | “Oh Lord our Father, our young patriots” [1986] | |||||||||
|
Broadside for the Great Peace March for Nuclear Disarmament. “From ‘The War Prayer’ by Mark Twain.”
Quote below drawing of a crowd of suited men with crutches and canes. “Permission of Mrs. Ben Shahn.” Four copies, three on
heavy paper and one on handmade [Japanese?] paper. See also “Oh Lord our Father, our young patriots” in Box 3 Folder 2 and Box 5 Folder 9. |
|||||||||||
| 3 copies: 55.8 x 43.1 cm | |||||||||||
| 1 copy: 55.6 x 42.8 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 3 | “There never has been a just one, never an honorable one” [1965? 1967?] | |||||||||
|
Broadside. Seated, robed man [Gandhi] and text. Quote identified: “From ‘The Mysterious Stranger’
by Mark Twain.” Three copies. |
|||||||||||
| See also: Box 1 Folder 15 Box 4 Folder 13 Box 4 Folder 14 Box 5 Folder 9 Drawer Folder 6 Drawer Folder 15 |
|||||||||||
| 43.1 x 28 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| Drawer | 15 | “There has never been a just one, never an honorable one” (1965) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn D15-6967 Poster, possibly enlarged or an artist’s proof. Seated, robed man [Gandhi] and handwritten text. Quote identified: “From ‘The Mysterious Stranger’ by Mark Twain.” This quote starts “There has never been”, while the quotes for other variations read “There never has been…” Signature at bottom. This sheet is available, but the folder is large and awkward. If possible, please see digital image rather than original. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
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| See Also: Box 1 Folder 15 Box 3, Folder 3 Box 4 Folder 13 Box 4 Folder 14 Box 5 Folder 9 Drawer Folder 6 Drawer Folder 15 |
|||||||||||
| 96.7 x 63.6 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 3 | “Thou Shalt Not Stand Idly By ” (1983) | |||||||||
|
Broadside. White hand outlined in black, reaching down to clasp red brown hand reaching up. Text above
in Hebrew (red) and English (black). Ben Shahn signature below and artist’s chop in red brown. Caption: “Reproduced in 1983
from the 1966 first printing.” |
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| 50.1 x 38.7 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| Drawer | 15 | “Warning!” [1940-1949] | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn D15-6968 Broadside political poster. CIO (Congress of Industrial Organizations) political voter registration reproductive print. Man holding his hands in distress in front of his mouth, with text “Inflation means depression” and “Register Vote”. Logo between words “CIO Political Action Committee”. Logo lower right “S.A. No.1 New York Union Label 31. Registered”. This sheet is available, but the folder is large and awkward. If possible, please see digital image rather than original. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
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| 100.5 x 70.6 cm | |||||||||||
| CALLIGRAPHY AND LETTERING | |||||||||||
| Summary:This series comprises 130 items with letters and text written primarily in graphite and ink on tracing paper or heavy paper.
These include lettering for announcements, book covers and titles, quotes used in political or anti-war posters, Chinese characters,
Hebrew letters and quotations, and drafts of a Christmas card or print. For this listing works are arranged alphabetically
by title, first words or subject, ie. Announcements and Titles, "April 26-29,” “Behold,” Chinese Calligraphy. Physically, the works are arranged by size, then alphabetically. Calligraphy and lettering is found in Boxes 1,3, 4 and
in an oversized Drawer. For many of the large and unwieldy works, digital images are available subject to copyright restrictions.
Digital images have also been printed and can be found in Box 1, Folder 9 (Printed Images of Digitized Calligraphy and Lettering). These prints are not included in the item count above.
|
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 4 | “27 Reasons for Voting Johnson” (undated) | |||||||||
|
Ben Shahn 4-3a Block-outline graphite letters on paper. Folded in half. |
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| 38 x 106.4 cm | |||||||||||
| 4 | “AAABCD” (undated) | ||||||||||
|
Ben Shahn 4-3b Print on glossy photo paper. Letters and letter combinations. Received rolled in wrapper with note “Photo Neg. of Tree of Life.” |
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| 39.1 x 29.2 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| Drawer | 1 | “And to proceed on through the memory” (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn D1-6877 and D1-6878 Block outline graphite letters on lined tracing paper, between and overwriting lines of a border design. Quote ends: “Robert Hooke – Micrographia – 1665.” Two copies. One has note at top: “Final.” In the other, the word “proceed” is not lettered, but handwritten; other words are handwritten, then overwritten by lettering. These sheets are available, but the folder is large and awkward. If possible, please see Printed Images of Digitized Calligraphy and Lettering), Box 1, Folder 9, rather than original. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
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| Final: 90.1 x 45.4 cm Draft: 76 x 45.5 cm |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 4 | Announcements and Titles (undated) | |||||||||
|
Ben Shahn 3-4a to 3-4f Six sheets. Three graphite on tracing paper. Three on heavy paper: graphite, ink and stamp. |
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| Various sizes under 28 x 44cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 5 | “April 26-29 Biennial Religious Conference” [1961] | |||||||||
|
Ben Shahn 4-4a Block-outline graphite letters on tracing paper. |
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| 60 x 47.2 cm | |||||||||||
| 5 | “Behold, How it is Like the Precious Ointment upon the Head” (undated) | ||||||||||
|
Ben Shahn 4-4b Block-outline graphite letters on tracing paper. |
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| 52.4 x 22.1 cm | |||||||||||
| 5 | “Bring Back My Sons from Far” (undated) | ||||||||||
|
Ben Shahn 4-4c Block-outline graphite letters on tracing paper. |
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| 24.3 x 70.6 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| Drawer | 1 | “Bring Back My Sons from Far” (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn D1-6880 Block-outline graphite letters on tracing paper. This piece is available, but the folder is large and awkward. If possible, please see Printed Images of Digitized Calligraphy and Lettering), Box 1, Folder 9, rather than original. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
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| 104.2 x 32.5 | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1-3 | Chinese Calligraphy, Folders 1-3 (undated) | |||||||||
|
Ben Shahn 1-1a to 1-3 Ink on paper. 12 sheets. Folder 3: “Ben Shahn Signature in Chinese Calligraphy.” |
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| Various sizes under 24 x 37 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 5 | Chinese Calligraphy (undated) | |||||||||
|
Ben Shahn 3-5a to 3-5b Ink on paper. Two sheets. |
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| Various sizes under 35.2 x 27.2 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 5 | Chinese Calligraphy (undated) | |||||||||
|
Ben Shahn 4-4d Ink on paper. |
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| 46.2 x 41.3 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| Drawer | 1 | Chinese Calligraphy (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn D1-6881 Ink on paper. This piece is available, but the folder is large and awkward. If possible, please see Printed Images of Digitized Calligraphy and Lettering), Box 1, Folder 9, rather than original. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
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| 93.1 x 69.8 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 6 | “Christmas 1963” [1963] | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn 4-5a Block-outline graphite letters on heavy paper strip, attached to heavy paper. Printed “MPO” attached to upper left. |
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| 12.7 x 74 cm | |||||||||||
| 6 | “A Conference to Re-Emphasize” (undated) | ||||||||||
|
Ben Shahn 4-5b Block-outline graphite letters on tracing paper. |
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| 9.6 x 75.2 cm | |||||||||||
| 6 | “FDR” (undated) | ||||||||||
|
Ben Shahn 4-5c Block-outline graphite letters on tracing paper. |
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| 41.5 x 65.6 cm | |||||||||||
| 7 | “God Bless The Master of This House” (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn 4-6 Lettering and design for the quote, mounted on cardboard. |
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| 37.9 x 50.7 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 4-5 | Hebrew Lettering, Folders 1-2 (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn 1-4a to 1-5h Including lettering for Alphabet of Creation and Haggadah. 15 sheets. |
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| Various sizes under 24 x 60.5 cm | |||||||||||
| Roll 1 | Hebrew Lettering (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn 1 Roll 1a-f Graphite block lettering. Six rolled, taped, strips, numbered sequentially at right hand edge, with other numbers on some strips. |
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| Size range: 8.8 x 125 to 143.5 cm | |||||||||||
| Roll 2 | Hebrew Lettering (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn 1 Roll 2 Three lines of ink letters with graphite ruling. Rolled strip. |
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| 15.7 x 150 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 6 | Hebrew Lettering (undated) | |||||||||
|
Ben Shahn 3-6a to 3-6b Two sheets. One graphite on lined tracing paper, one ink on heavy paper. |
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| Various sizes under 30 x 42 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 8 | Hebrew Lettering (undated) | |||||||||
|
Ben Shahn 4-7a Eight letters, [alphabet]. Ink letters mounted on heavy paper. Notes: numbers and “top.” |
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| 12.6 x 64.7 cm | |||||||||||
| 8 | Hebrew Lettering (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn 4-7b Eight letters, [alphabet]. Ink letters mounted on heavy paper. Notes: numbers and “top.” |
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| 12.6 x 64.7 cm | |||||||||||
| 8 | Hebrew Lettering (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn 4-7c Six letters, [alphabet]. Ink letters mounted on heavy paper. Notes: Numbers, “ok”, and check marks. |
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| 12.6 x 64.5 cm | |||||||||||
| 8 | Hebrew Lettering (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn 4-7d Graphite letters on tracing paper. Received rolled in a wrapper with the notation “Capital Letters for Decalogue Tablets.” |
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| 35 x 35 cm | |||||||||||
| 8 | Hebrew Lettering (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn 4-7e Four lines of text. Ink letters on tracing paper with graphite direction and number markings. |
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| 24.3 x 69.3 cm | |||||||||||
| 8 | Hebrew Lettering (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn 4-7f Five lines of text. Block-outline graphite letters on tracing paper. |
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| 38.1 x 61.6 cm | |||||||||||
| 8 | Hebrew Lettering (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn 4-7g Seven lines of text. Ink on heavy brown paper. Brown paint marks on verso. |
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| 18 x 62.6 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| Drawer | 1 | Hebrew Lettering (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn D1-6882 Black [pastel] letters on tracing paper. Alphabet of Creation. Removed from heavy cardboard backing. This lettering sheet is available, but is fragile. If possible, please see Printed Images of Digitized Calligraphy and Lettering), Box 1, Folder 9, rather than original. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
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| 76 x 64 cm | |||||||||||
| 2 | Hebrew Lettering [1961] | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn D2-6884, D2-6886 to D2-6888 Eight sheets on light paper with outlined letters in graphite. Sheets are numbered, some have Hebrew text in notes and identification as Decalogue lettering. Originally rolled together with a label “Lettering for Decalogue.” These sheets are available, but the folder is large and awkward. If possible, please see Printed Images of Digitized Calligraphy and Lettering), Box 1, Folder 9, rather than original. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
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| Various sizes, all narrow rectangles, typical: 30 x 85 cm | |||||||||||
| 3 | Hebrew Lettering (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn D3-6889 Heavy paper stencil of letters, [from Decalogue], supported on back by wood frame. Green plant designs on face. Cut-out letters brushed over by brown paint. |
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| 84.1 x 54.3 cm | |||||||||||
| 4 | Hebrew Lettering (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn D4-6891 Letters outlined in graphite and pinhole lines (pounce), covered with yellow [rubbed pastel] and framed with a graphite rectangle line. Notes on verso: “For doors of Ark” and “Pounce for Alphabet of Creation.” This piece is available, but the folder is large and awkward amd the color is not fixed. If possible, please see Printed Images of Digitized Calligraphy and Lettering), Box 1, Folder 9, rather than original. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
|||||||||||
| 103.5 x 71.5 cm | |||||||||||
| 5 | Hebrew Lettering (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn D5-6892 Brown line Hebrew lettering set within vine decoration, line border. Alphabet of Creation. This piece is available, but the folder is large and awkward. If possible, please see Printed Images of Digitized Calligraphy and Lettering), Box 1, Folder 9, rather than original. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
|||||||||||
| 84.5 x 64 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 9 | “If I am not for myself who will be for me” (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn 4-8a Block outline lettered quote in graphite on hand-lined paper. |
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| 21.1 x 69.7 cm | |||||||||||
| 9 | “I have the right to believe freely” (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn 4-8b Stylized [ink?] script [Martin Luther] quote on hand-lined paper. See also Box 5, Folder 9. |
|||||||||||
| 17 x 53 cm | |||||||||||
| 9 | “I have the right to believe freely” (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn 4-8c to 4-8i Ink script [Martin Luther] quote in seven individual strips of paper, numbered. Written here with “/” to separate each sheet: “I have the right to believe freely / To be a slave to no man’s authority / If this be heresy, so be it. It is still / the truth. To go against conscience / is neither right nor safe. I can not / will not recant. Here I stand. No / man can command my conscience.” See also Box 5, Folder 9. |
|||||||||||
| Various sizes, typical: 4.5 x 60.5 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 7 | Lettered and Written Text (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn 3-7a to 3-7f Ink on heavy paper. Six sheets. |
|||||||||||
| Various sized under 42.4 x 64 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 6-8 | Lettered Text and Titles, Folders 1-3 (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn 1-6a to 8-f Ink and marker. 18 sheets and fragments. |
|||||||||||
| Various sizes under 24 x 37 cm | |||||||||||
| Roll 3 | Number Tape (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn 1 Roll 3 Rolled strip with graphite numbers at regular intervals, neither metric nor inches, and height and width notations. |
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| 6.7 x 242.3 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 10 | “Levana” [1931] | |||||||||
|
Ben Shahn 4-9a to 4-9c Three objects. Stencil and raised letter word, both in cardboard. [Crayon?] lettering on paper. Note on discarded wrapping for raised letter cardboard: “LEVANA BY BEN SHAHN (for Levana and our ladies of Sorrow?)” |
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| Cardboard (4-9a & 4-9b): 14.7 x 50.8 cm Paper (4-9c): 27 x 45.5 cm |
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| 11 | “Men are Men before they are Lawyers or Physicians or Manufacturers” (undated) | ||||||||||
|
Ben Shahn 4-10a Ink script quote on heavy paper. |
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| 30.9 x 45.5 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 8 | “A Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year” [1960-1969] | |||||||||
|
Ben Shahn 3-8a to 3-8e Five sheets. One lettered, graphite on tracing paper. Four drafts in colored ink on heavy paper. See other “A Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year” drawings in Box 1, Folder 10 and a print in Box 3, Folder 21. |
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| 3-8a: 23.7 x 30 cm 3-8b to 3-8e: 28.5 x 44.4 cm |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 11 | “Nature” [1968?] | |||||||||
|
Ben Shahn 4-10b to 4-10c Block-outline graphite letters. 2 copies, one on tracing paper and one on paper with numerical calculations on right side. Possibly for poster “The National Parks, Nature.” |
|||||||||||
| 4-10b: 20.7 x 52 cm 4-10c: 14.2 x 65.7 cm |
|||||||||||
| 11 | “Paris Review” (undated) | ||||||||||
|
Ben Shahn 4-10d Block-outline graphite letters on tracing paper. |
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| 18.1 x 75.2 cm | |||||||||||
| 11 | “Porgy and Be” (undated) | ||||||||||
|
Ben Shahn 4-10e Truncated title: Porgy and Bess. Ink or watercolor and graphite on tracing paper. |
|||||||||||
| 23.5 x 58.7 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 9 | Printed Images of Digitized Calligraphy and Lettering (undated) | |||||||||
|
D1-6877 “And to proceed on through the memory” D1-6878 “And to proceed on through the memory” - Final D1-6880 “Bring Back My Sons from Far” D1-6881 Chinese Calligraphy D1-6882 Hebrew Lettering - [Alphabet of Creation] D2-6884, D2-6886 to D2-6888 Hebrew Lettering- [Decalogue] D3-6889 Hebrew Lettering - [Decalogue] Stencil D4-6891 Hebrew Lettering - [Alphabet of Creation] yellow pounce D5-6892 Hebrew Lettering - [Alphabet of Creation] brown line D5-6883 “So many are the links upon which the true philosophy depends” D6-6906 “There never has been a just one, never an honorable one” |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 11 | “Review” (undated) | |||||||||
|
Ben Shahn 4-10f Block-outline graphite letters on paper. |
|||||||||||
| 26.2 x 67.8 cm | |||||||||||
| 12 | “So many are the links upon which the true philosophy depends” (undated) | ||||||||||
|
Ben Shahn 4-11a Block-outline graphite letters on lined tracing paper, between outlined border design. Fingers of a hand drawn in graphite reach toward lower left edge of border. |
|||||||||||
| 75.8 x 45.7 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| Drawer | 5 | “So many are the links upon which the true philosophy depends” (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn D5-6883 Block outline graphite letters on lined tracing paper, between and overwriting lines of a border design. Note “Final” at top and numerical calculations at bottom and right side. This piece is available, but the folder is large and awkward. If possible, please see Printed Images of Digitized Calligraphy and Lettering), Box 1, Folder 9, rather than original. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
|||||||||||
| 87.5 x 45.3 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 12 | [“Teach thy tongue to say ‘I do not know’, and thou shalt progress”] (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn 4-11b Fragment of the Maimonides quote. Ink on irregularly cut and torn, heavy textured paper. Possibly related to untitled ink design drawing with bands of flowers and circles in Box 4, Folder 13. |
|||||||||||
| 51 x 54.5 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| Drawer | 6 | “There never has been a just one, never an honorable one” (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn D6-6906 Ink calligraphy, with sample letters and designs at top of page. Discarded note around rolled calligraphy: “Lettering for Mark Twain quote.” This piece is available, but the folder is large and awkward. If possible, please see Printed Images of Digitized Calligraphy and Lettering), Box 1, Folder 9, rather than original. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. See also: Box 1 Folder 15 Box 3 Folder 3 Box 4 Folder 13 Box 4 Folder 14 Box 5 Folder 9 Drawer Folder 15 |
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| 96.2 x 97.4 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 12 | “We Kindle the Lights” and “Nothing is more estimable” (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn 4-11c Two lined and graphite-lettered quotes on one piece of tracing paper. |
|||||||||||
| 26 x 53.2 cm | |||||||||||
| 12 | “Writings on the Theory and Practice of Non-Violent Resistance” (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn 4-11d Ink script on both sides of tracing paper. Three graphite sketches of horse and rider. |
|||||||||||
| 18.2 x 47.8 cm | |||||||||||
| DRAWINGS | |||||||||||
| Summary:Series comprises 37 items. These include architectural drawings, designs, drafts, plans, and sketches in gouache or watercolor,
graphite, ink and pastel, as well as brown line plans. Many are also outlines with small holes (pounce) and rubbed with chalk
or graphite. Identified drawings are architectural drawings for his work at Temple Beth Zion and sketches for his painting
Liberation. Most items are untitled and are arranged broadly by size. Drawings are found in Boxes 1-4, and in an oversized Drawer. For
many of the large and unwieldy works, digital images are available, subject to copyright restrictions. A number of works are
not accessible by researchers due to their fragile condition, and digital images are available for these works, again, subject
to copyright restrictions. Digital images have also been printed and can be found in Box 1, Folders 11-12 (Printed Images of Digitized Drawings). These prints are not included in the item count above.
|
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 10 | [“A Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year”] [1960-1969] | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn 1-10a to 1-10b Two partial ink drawings of different aspects of the final print on tracing paper. Both mounted on cardboard. One has notes on front and back. Front: “Care This is an Original Please Return.” Back: “Original Please Return to Mrs Ben Shahn” and “A Gonomony [Gnomony?].” See other “A Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year” drawings": Box 3, Folder 8 and a print in Box 3, Folder 21. |
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| 1-10a: 19.8 x 26 cm 1-10b: 19 x 25.4 cm |
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| 11-12 | Printed Images of Digitized Drawings (undated) | ||||||||||
| Folder 11 includes printed images for the following drawings:
NA 6639-6641 Temple Beth Zion - Right Hand Tablet (Brown Line) NA 6642-6643 Temple Beth Zion - Left Hand Tablet (Brown Line) NA 6645-6647 Kyrie Elison (Decorated Music) NA 6648-6649 Untitled (Straight and Arched Columns) NA 6650, NA 6652 Temple Beth Zion - Left Hand Tablet NA 6654-6655 Temple Beth Zion - Right Hand Tablet NA 6656-6659 North Tablet - Temple Beth Zion - Sanctuary (Brown Line) NA 6662 Untitled (Bird, Open Beak, Raised Wings) NA 6904-6905 Window - Hand and Sky Only - [Temple Beth Zion?] Folder 12 includes printed images for the following drawings: D7-6894 Untitled (Figure, Two Fists, Pounce for Clarinets) D8-6664 Untitled (Baby, Held by Arm and Hand) D9-6896 Untitled (Tall, Narrow Drawing) D9-6955 Preparatory Sketches "Liberation" D9-6957 Liberation D10-6638 Untitled (Bird) D11-6663 Untitled (Hand Holding Upside Down Child) |
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| 13 | Untitled (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn 1-13a to 1-13f Six sheets of falcon sketches and notes. |
|||||||||||
| Various sizes under 12 x 37 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | Roll 1 | [Tree of Life] (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn 2 Roll 1 Rolled brown line drawing, two men in center, one holding a sheet of Hebrew script. On left, tree with spines stretching out into lines and small dots (stars?). On right, lines with dots. Grid lines and numbering. Originally wrapped with a label: “Brown Print Tree of Life.” |
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| 27.7 x 144 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 9 | Untitled (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn 3-9 Graphite drawing on cardboard of tree, corn and clouds on a white wash background. |
|||||||||||
| 28 x 32.8 cm | |||||||||||
| 10 | Untitled (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn 3-10a to 3-10b Heavily pigmented [gouache?] stripes with sparse black ink design on cardboard and the same without ink on heavy paper. |
|||||||||||
| 3-10a: 27 x 21.6 cm 3-10b: 27.6 x 30.3 cm |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 13 | Untitled (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn 4-12a Architectural drawing in graphite. Elevation, with measurements and notes and a small three dimensional sketch. On mottled tan paper. Note lower edge: “Wall for Soc Sec mural?” |
|||||||||||
| 50.8 x 76 cm | |||||||||||
| 13 | Untitled (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn 4-12b Armed man (Roman? Greek?), waving club and shield, hare at his feet. Graphite on tracing paper, with pinholes (pounce) following the outline and a blue [pastel?] rub over the design. |
|||||||||||
| 56 x 36.5 cm | |||||||||||
| 13 | Untitled (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn 4-12c Geometric design in pinholes (pounce), many connected to graphite dots. Graphite rub over the design. Paper. |
|||||||||||
| 69.2 x 54 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 13 | Untitled (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn 4-12d Graphite drawing of sharp spined branches overlaying a different design traced in pinholes (pounce). Note on one side: “This page is interesting in that it demonstrates the process of using the pounce to superimpose one design over another.” Verso reads “Thistle from Blind Botanist.” Brown paper. |
|||||||||||
| 48.1 x 77.5 cm | |||||||||||
| 13 | Untitled (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn 4-12e Ink design with bands of flowers and circles. Heavy, textured paper, irregularly cut, torn and coarsely mended. Paper similar to “Teach thy tongue,” Box 4, Folder 12. |
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| 51.1 x 43.7 cm | |||||||||||
| 13 | Untitled (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn 4-12f Gouache “woven” checked pattern on irregularly cut paper. |
|||||||||||
| 64 x 28.9 cm | |||||||||||
| 13 | Untitled (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn 4-12g Gouache “woven” checked pattern on large, rectangular sheet. Graphite check marks below many columns. |
|||||||||||
| 55.8 x 64 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| Drawer | 7 | Untitled [1943?] | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn D7-6894 Graphite drawing of partial human figure with two, sleeved arms ending in fists. Taped-together, irregular tracing paper. Pinholes (pounce) follow lines of drawing. Note on side “Pounce for Clarinets and Tin Drum or ‘Warsaw’ poster (similar figure) BB.” This drawing is available, but is large and easily damaged. If possible, please see Printed Images of Digitized Drawings) in Box 1, Folder 12. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
|||||||||||
| 75.6 x 90.4 cm | |||||||||||
| 8 | Untitled (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn D8-6664 Drawing of baby, held by arm and hand. Graphite, pinhole outline (pounce), grid lines. This drawing is available, but is large and easily damaged. If possible, please see Printed Images of Digitized Drawings) in Box 1, Folder 12. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
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| 75 x 68 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| Drawer | 8 | Untitled (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn D15-6969 Drawing of an owl in ink and wash. Black and gray. Mounted on heavy board backer. This sheet is available, but the folder is large and awkward. If possible, please see digital image rather than original. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
|||||||||||
| 104.5 x 67.3 including backer | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| Drawer | 9 | Untitled (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn D9-6896 Graphite tall, narrow, angular drawing on far right side of page. Note: “BS” upper right corner. This drawing is available, but the folder is large and awkward. If possible, please see Printed Images of Digitized Drawings) in Box 1, Folder 12. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
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| 106.1 x 70.7 cm | |||||||||||
| 9 | Liberation [1943] | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn D9-6957 Drawing in graphite and gray wash of three people swinging from ladder trapezes. Tracing paper. Penciled note with title and “BBS”. This drawing is available, but the folder is large and awkward. If possible, please see Printed Images of Digitized Drawings) in Box 1, Folder 12. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
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| 75.7 x 102 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| Drawer | 9 | Preparatory Sketches “Liberation” (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn D9-6955 Drawing in graphite of four people swinging from ladder trapezes. Sketch and paint samples on one side, penciled numbers in center. Tracing paper. Penciled note with title and “BBS”. This drawing is available, but the folder is large and awkward. If possible, please see Printed Images of Digitized Drawings) in Box 1, Folder 12. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
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| 78.5 x 100.8 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| Drawer | 10 | Untitled (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn D10-6638 Stylized bird in black pastel on very fragile tracing paper. This drawing is available, but is very fragile. Please see Printed Images of Digitized Drawings), Box 1, Folder 12, rather than original. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
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| 100.3 x 76.2 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| Drawer | 11 | Untitled (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn D11-6663 Drawing of hand holding upside down child by ankles, both on face and on verso. Graphite, pinhole outline (pounce), numbered grid lines on face. Verso graphite drawing. This drawing is available, but is fragile. Please see Printed Images of Digitized Drawings, Box 1, Folder 12, rather than original. Digital image available, subject to copyright restrictions. No verso image available. |
|||||||||||
| 102 x 67.7 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| Unavailable | Temple Beth Zion – Right Hand Tablet [1966?] | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn NA 6639-6641 Brown line architectural drawing of Hebrew letters set in scrolled leaf pattern, all within angled box line. Below is text “Temple Beth Zion – Right Hand Tablet.” This drawing is fragile and not available to scholars. Please see Printed Images of Digitized Drawings, Box 1, Folder 11. Digital images available subject to copyright restrictions. Image 6639 is of the top part of the drawing, showing the first three letters. Images 6640-6641 are alternate views of the lower part of the drawing, showing the last two letters. |
|||||||||||
| 193.4 x 64.5 cm | |||||||||||
| Temple Beth Zion – Right Hand Tablet [1966?] | |||||||||||
| Ben Shahn NA 6654-6655 [Graphite] drawing on white paper of Hebrew letters set in scrolled leaf pattern, all within angled box line. Below is text “Temple Beth Zion – Right Hand Tablet.” This drawing is fragile and not available to scholars. Please see Printed Images of Digitized Drawings, Box 1, Folder 11. Digital images available subject to copyright restrictions. Image 6654 is of the top part of the drawing, showing the first three letters. Image 6655 is of the lower part of the drawing, showing the last two letters. Original wrapper of the rolled sheet read “Buffalo Mosaic Pieces?” |
|||||||||||
| 194.9 x 63.7 cm | |||||||||||
| Temple Beth Zion – Left Hand Tablet [1966?] | |||||||||||
| Ben Shahn NA 6642-6643 Brown line architectural drawing of Hebrew letters set in scrolled leaf pattern, all within angled box line. Below is text “Temple Beth Zion – Left Hand Tablet.” This drawing is fragile and not available to scholars. Please see Printed Images of Digitized Drawings, Box 1, Folder 11. Digital images available subject to copyright restrictions. Image 6642 is of the top part of the drawing, showing the first three letters. Images 6643 is of the lower part of the drawing, showing the last two letters. |
|||||||||||
| 165.3 x 61.3 cm | |||||||||||
| Temple Beth Zion – Left Hand Tablet [1966?] | |||||||||||
| Ben Shahn NA 6650, 6652 [Graphite] drawing on white paper of Hebrew letters set in scrolled leaf pattern, all within angled box line. Below is text “Temple Beth Zion – Left Hand Tablet.” This drawing is fragile and not available to scholars. Please see Printed Images of Digitized Drawings, Box 1, Folder 11. Digital images available subject to copyright restrictions. Image 6650 is of the top part of the drawing, showing the first three letters. Images 6652 is of the lower part of the drawing, showing the last two letters. Original wrapper of the rolled sheet read “Buffalo Mosaic Pieces?” |
|||||||||||
| 194.7 x 64.2 cm | |||||||||||
| North Tablet - Temple Beth Zion – Sanctuary (1966) | |||||||||||
| Ben Shahn NA 6656-6659 Two copies of architectural brown line drawings of Hebrew letters set in scrolled leaf pattern, all within angled box line. Dimensional installation and scale notations. Below includes text “North Tablet - Temple Beth Zion – Sanctuary – N303.” Also, “Commandment size and spacing as established at job site 18 May 1966 by Messrs Shahn and Abramovitz and as approved by owner” and “SK 210”. This drawing is fragile and not available to scholars. Please see Printed Images of Digitized Drawings, Box 1, Folder 11. Digital images available subject to copyright restrictions. Images 6656-6657 are of the upper and lower half, respectively, of the copy that has “N303” in faded letters. Images 6658-6659 are of the lower and upper half, respectively, of the copy that has “N303” clearly visible. |
|||||||||||
| NA 6656-6657: 225.2 x 92 cm NA 6658-6659: 224.7 x 92.3 cm |
|||||||||||
| Window – Hand and Sky Only – [Temple Beth Zion?] (undated) | |||||||||||
| Ben Shahn NA 6904-6905 Drawing, pounce and chalk, of hands and geometric shapes. Notation on verso: “Window – Hand and Sky Only.” This drawing is fragile and not available to scholars. Please see Printed Images of Digitized Drawings, Box 1, Folder 11. Digital image available, subject to copyright restrictions. Because of the size of the drawing, the image is in two parts, 6904 is the bottom of the drawing and 6905 shows the top. |
|||||||||||
| 132.5 x 106.5 cm | |||||||||||
| [Kyrie Elison] (undated) | |||||||||||
| Ben Shahn NA 6645-6647 Drawing of music decorated with colored flowers and leaves in graphite, pastel and gouache. Graphite calligraphic letters were taped to the page, many are loose and some are missing. This drawing is fragile and not available to scholars. Please see Printed Images of Digitized Drawings, Box 1, Folder 11. Digital images available subject to copyright restrictions. Image 6645 is of the right part of the drawing, showing the letters “RIE ELISO”. Image 6646 is of the center part of the drawing, showing “KYRIE E”. Image 6647 is of the left part of the drawing, showing the Treble Clef symbol and the letters “KYRIE KY”. |
|||||||||||
| 49.7 x 225.9 cm | |||||||||||
| Untitled (undated) | |||||||||||
| Ben Shahn NA 6648-6649 Drawing of [straight and arched columns], pinhole outline (pounce) with blue [chalk] rub and a graphite frame outline. This drawing is fragile and not available to scholars. Please see Printed Images of Digitized Drawings, Box 1, Folder 11. Digital images available subject to copyright restrictions. Image 6648 is of the lower part of the drawing. Image 6649 is of the upper part of the drawing. |
|||||||||||
| 149.7 x 76 cm | |||||||||||
| Untitled (undated) | |||||||||||
| Ben Shahn NA 6662 Drawing of bird, open beak, raised wings, in black gouache. Graphite bird head sketched upper left. Numbered grid lines. This drawing is fragile and not available to scholars. Please see Printed Images of Digitized Drawings, Box 1, Folder 11. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
|||||||||||
| 72 x 106 cm | |||||||||||
| PHOTOGRAPHS, NEGATIVES AND TRANSPARENCIES | |||||||||||
| Summary:This series includes 24 photographs, oversized photographic negatives and transparencies. Many of the photographs are of various
men who worked in the printing of Ben Shahn’s books, including Haggadah for Passover. There are also three copies of a photograph of Ben Shahn and images of Haggadah for Passover illustrations. The photographic negative of a drawing of Gandhi used in different Ben Shahn posters, as well as a transparency
and photographic print of one of the posters. Subjects of many of the photographs were identified on the verso, while others
could not be identified. Arrangement is by photograph subject, with unidentified photographs at the end of the listing.
Photographs are found in Boxes 1,3 and 5 and in an oversized drawer. The Untitled photographic print (D12-6963, line and dot or sky and hands pattern), though available to researchers, is fragile, prone to curling and tearing, and the folder is large and awkward. If possible, please see Box 1, Folder 19, (Printed Image of Digitized Photograph), rather than original. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
|||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 14 | [Ben Shahn] (undated) | |||||||||
| Photograph. Ben Shahn seated, reading a sheet of paper and holding a wine glass. Four copies, one landscape orientation and
three portrait orientation. Verso of two copies: “please credit: photo Harry [Bakwin?].” See Box 3, Folder 11. |
|||||||||||
| Portrait: various sizes near 24 x 18 cm Landscape: 17.5 x 23.8 cm |
|||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 11 | [Ben Shahn] (undated) | |||||||||
| Photograph. Ben Shahn seated, reading a sheet of paper and holding a wine glass. See Box 1, Folder 14. |
|||||||||||
| 30.1 x 30.5 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 15 | [Gandhi] (undated) | |||||||||
| Photographic negative for lithograph of a bald, robed man wearing glasses and seated cross legged. See “There never has been a just one, never an honorable one.” See also: Box 3 Folder 3 Box 4 Folders 13 and 14 Box 5 Folder 9 Drawer Folder 6 Drawer Folder 15 |
|||||||||||
| 25.2 x 20.1 cm | |||||||||||
| 16 | [Haggadah for Passover] [1965] | ||||||||||
| Photograph image of menorah illustration. Three copies. Loose caption: “credit: Ben Shahn’s Haggadah published by Little, Brown and Company with Trianon Press.” See Box 3, Folder 12. |
|||||||||||
| Various sizes near 18 x 24 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 12 | [Haggadah for Passover] [1965] | |||||||||
| Photograph. Menorah illustration from the book. See Box 1, Folder 16. |
|||||||||||
| 30.5 x 41.1 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 17 | Henri Deschamps (undated) | |||||||||
| Photograph. Verso “Henri Deschamps who [illeg] the plates the Ecclesiastes & other works [printed?] or [produced?] by M. Fernand Mourlot.” Photocopy of loose caption. |
|||||||||||
| 17.5 x 24 cm | |||||||||||
| 18 | Henri Deschamps and [Arnold?] Fawcus (undated) | ||||||||||
| Photograph. Two men holding Haggadah for Passover menorah illustration. Three copies. Verso of one copy: “ M. Fawcus of The Trianon Press & Deschamps, lithographer for M.
Mourlot.” See Box 3, folder 12.
|
|||||||||||
| Various sizes near 18 x 24 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 12 | Henri Deschamps and [Arnold?] Fawcus (undated) | |||||||||
| Photograph. Two men holding Haggadah for Passover menorah illustration. See Box 1, Folder 18. |
|||||||||||
| 31 x 39.7 cm | |||||||||||
| 13 | Monsieur Crampe (undated) | ||||||||||
| Photograph. Verso: Monsieur Crampe worker on the [illegible] plates for Ben’s Haggadah.” |
|||||||||||
| 30.8 x 24.4 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 19 | Printed Image of Digitized Photograph (undated) | |||||||||
| D12-6963 Untitled (Line and dot or sky and hands pattern above Hebrew text) | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 14 | “There never has been a just one” [1965? 1967?] | |||||||||
| Large photographic negative. Quote from ‘The Mysterious Stranger’ by Mark Twain, with drawing of seated, robed man [Gandhi] and text. See also: Box 1 Folder 15 Box 3 Folder 3 Box 4 Folder 14 Box 5 Folder 9 Drawer Folder 6 Drawer Folder 15 |
|||||||||||
| 50.4 x 40.4 cm | |||||||||||
| 15 | “There never has been a just one” [1965? 1967?] | ||||||||||
| Large photographic print on Kodak paper. Quote from ‘The Mysterious Stranger’ by Mark Twain, with drawing of seated, robed man [Gandhi] and text. See also: Box 1 Folder 15 Box 3 Folder 3 Box 4 Folder 13 Box 5 Folder 9 Drawer Folder 6 Drawer Folder 15 |
|||||||||||
| 49.1 x 38.7 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 14 | [When the Saints] (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn 3-14a
Painted transparency of [four] musicians, one playing a trombone, one a tuba, one a trumpet and one a clarinet or oboe. Ansco Safety Film. Originally in envelope with notes: “Color Transparency, 11 x 16, When the Saints – Large.” |
|||||||||||
| 35.1 x 27.7 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 20 | Untitled (undated) | |||||||||
| Photograph. Unidentified man and printing press. See Box 3, Folder 14. |
|||||||||||
| 18.2 x 16.9 cm | |||||||||||
| 20 | Untitled (undated) | ||||||||||
| Photograph. Unidentified man and boy. Three copies. |
|||||||||||
| Various: near 18 x 24 cm | |||||||||||
| 21 | Untitled [1956?] | ||||||||||
| Negative, possibly [from a holiday booklet Sweet was the Song. Illustration for the line “To visit us that were forlorne.” Illustration also used in Love and Joy About Letters.] Also, photocopy of developer sleeve, reading “Shahn S.77”. |
|||||||||||
| 12.4 x 9.9 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 14 | Untitled (undated) | |||||||||
| Photograph. Unidentified man and printing press, with menorah illustration from Haggadah for Passover. See Box 1, Folder 20. |
|||||||||||
| 30.3 x 30.5 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 15 | Untitled (undated) | |||||||||
| Paper negative. Black with individual portraits in white outline of men playing various brass instruments. |
|||||||||||
| 56.7 x 30.5 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| Drawer | 12 | Untitled (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn D12-6963 Photographic print of a drawing in a line and dot (star?) or sky and hands pattern above Hebrew text, stamp and Ben Shahn signature. It is available, but is fragile, prone to curling and tearing, and the folder is large and awkward. If possible, please see Printed Image of Digitized Photograph Box 1, Folder 19, rather than original. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
|||||||||||
| 104 x 85.8 cm | |||||||||||
| POSTERS (REPRODUCTIVE PRINTS) | |||||||||||
| Summary:Numbering 35 items, this series consists of poster reproductive prints of 15 original paintings or drawings by Ben Shahn. Most posters were created for the Ben Shahn Retrospective Exhibition held in 1991 in Japan. Arrangement is alphabetical by title or the work’s written text. Political posters and large advertising posters are included in the series Broadsides, Advertising and Political Posters. | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 5 | 1 | All That is Beautiful (1991) | |||||||||
| Poster reproductive print of 1965 original. Printed for Ben Shahn Retrospective Exhibition Japan. Urban scene with buildings and cranes. Black and white with color accents. Three copies. Two have captions identifying work
and exhibition, and Shahn signature. One, on lighter paper, has no caption. |
|||||||||||
| 36.3 x 51.2 cm | |||||||||||
| 1 | Bookshop: Hebrew Books, Holy Day Books (1991) | ||||||||||
| Poster reproductive print of 1953 original. Printed for Ben Shahn Retrospective Exhibition Japan. Figure holding child in front of a store window with Hebrew characters and “Levinson Books” in the window. Red. Three copies.
Two have captions identifying work and exhibition, and Shahn signature. One, on thinner paper, has no caption. |
|||||||||||
| 51.5 x 38 cm | |||||||||||
| 2 | Branches of Water or Desire (1991) | ||||||||||
| Poster reproductive print of 1965 original. Printed for Ben Shahn Retrospective Exhibition Japan. Stylized head with thorned branches growing from it. Purples, reds and white. Three copies. Two have captions identifying
work and exhibition, and Shahn signature. One, on thinner paper, has no caption. |
|||||||||||
| 51.3 x 36.3 cm | |||||||||||
| 2 | For the Sake of a Single Verse (1991) | ||||||||||
| Poster reproductive print of 1968 illustration from the Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge by Rainer Maria Rilke. Printed for Ben Shahn Retrospective Exhibition Japan. Two groups of three women each, lavenders and tan. Three copies. Two have captions identifying work and exhibition, and
Shahn signature. One, on thinner paper, has no caption. |
|||||||||||
| 51.4 x 36.3 cm | |||||||||||
| 3 | I Send You Here a Wreath of Blossoms Blown (1981) | ||||||||||
| Poster reproductive print of 1964 original. Grouping of colored wildflowers. Captions in English and Japanese identify work
and artist. Also, “©by S.P A.D.E.M Paris, 1981” followed by Japanese text. |
|||||||||||
| 51.5 x 36.5 cm | |||||||||||
| 3 | I Think Continually of Those Who Were Truly Great (1991) | ||||||||||
| Poster reproductive print of 1968 illustration from the Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge by Rainer Maria Rilke. Printed for Ben Shahn Retrospective Exhibition Japan. White dove beside lettered quote and handwritten names. Three copies. Two, with gray wash background have captions identifying
work and exhibition, and Shahn signature. One, on thinner paper with purple wash background, has no caption. |
|||||||||||
| 51.3 x 36.3 cm | |||||||||||
| 4 | Labyrinth: Icarus Theme (1981) | ||||||||||
| Poster reproductive print of 1952 original. Reds, whites and black. Man’s white face with red flames for hair. Captions in
English and Japanese identify work and artist. Also, “©by S.P A.D.E.M Paris, 1981” followed by Japanese text. |
|||||||||||
| 51.5 x 36.5 cm | |||||||||||
| 4 | Left Panel for Roosevelt Mural (1991) | ||||||||||
| Poster reproductive print of 1937-1938 original. Printed for Ben Shahn Retrospective Exhibition Japan. Montage of images of people in various settings, with the center showing drably-dressed people coming over a red bridge.
Blues, red. Three copies. Two have captions identifying work and exhibition, and Shahn signature. One, on thinner paper, has
no caption. |
|||||||||||
| 36.4 x 51.4 cm | |||||||||||
| 4 | Ohio Magic (undated) | ||||||||||
| Poster reproductive print of 1945 original. Open bus driving down a road lined with buildings. Reds, yellow, blues. Caption
identifying work and its location: “California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco (Williams Collection)”. Caption
identifying printer: “AN Abrams COLOR PRINT, Printed in Holland by Smeets Weert.” |
|||||||||||
| 48.8 x 63.2 cm | |||||||||||
| 5 | Phoenix (1991) | ||||||||||
| Poster reproductive print of 1952 original. Printed for Ben Shahn Retrospective Exhibition Japan. Multi-colored striped bird standing in black and white flames. Writing above and below the bird: “Ben Shahn March 10 to
March 29.” Three copies. Two have captions identifying work and exhibition, and Shahn signature. One, on thinner paper, has
no caption. |
|||||||||||
| 51.4 x 36.3 cm | |||||||||||
| 5 | Ram’s Horn and Menorah (1991) | ||||||||||
| Poster reproductive print of 1958 original. Printed for Ben Shahn Retrospective Exhibition Japan. Sun, or flames below Hebrew lettering and above a Menorah, a figure holdings a ram’s horn instrument, which appears to rest
on two of five heads below it. Multi-colored, with flames or sun in red and blue. Three copies. Two have captions identifying
work and exhibition, and Shahn signature. One, on thinner paper, has no caption. |
|||||||||||
| 36.4 x 51.4 cm | |||||||||||
| 5 | A Score of White Pigeons (undated) | ||||||||||
| Poster reproductive print of 1960 original. Two people standing, one holding a poster of a man, the other a [wooden staff?],
above is filled with white pigeons. Captions identifying artist, work and National Museum Stockholm. Also Swedish text. |
|||||||||||
| 70.5 x 49.8 cm | |||||||||||
| 6 | “Syphilis Keep Out” (undated) | ||||||||||
| Poster reproductive print. Placard between a door and a shuttered window. Black and white. Verso note: “Shahn OWI War-time
Poster.” |
|||||||||||
| 39.8 x 55.5 cm | |||||||||||
| 6 | Triple Dip (1991) | ||||||||||
| Poster reproductive print of 1952 original for Ben Shahn Retrospective Exhibition Japan. Sketched outline of seated man, holding an ice cream cone with three scoops. Purple with colored ice cream. Three copies.
Two have captions identifying work and exhibition, and Shahn signature. One, on thinner paper, has no caption. |
|||||||||||
| 51.5 x 37.8 cm | |||||||||||
| 6 | Wheat Field (1991) | ||||||||||
| Poster reproductive print of 1958 original for Ben Shahn Retrospective Exhibition Japan. Wheat stalks with full grain heads. Three copies. Two, in black and white with color accents, have captions identifying
work and exhibition, and Shahn signature. One, with dark red-tinted wheat and colored accents, on thinner paper, has no caption.
|
|||||||||||
| 36.4 x 51.4 cm | |||||||||||
| PRINTS | |||||||||||
| Summary:This series consists of 128 commercial reproductive prints, lithographs and other prints. These range from reproductions of
paintings and drawings, as well as of magazine covers (Abraham Lincoln) and Christmas cards. Arrangement for this listing
is alphabetical by title, with untitled works listed at the end. A series of illustrations for the book, The Dreyfus Affair is grouped together under The Dreyfus Affair, then alphabetically by title. Physically, the prints are organized by size, then alphabetically. Prints are found in Boxes
1-3 and 5.
|
|||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 15 | [Abraham Lincoln] [1965] | |||||||||
| Print. Portrait. Three copies. |
|||||||||||
| 40.8 x 31 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 5 | 7 | Andrew Goodman [1965] | |||||||||
| Print. Portrait drawn in black with red printed name above and Ben Shahn signature below. Identified in list accompanying
accrual donation as from a portfolio of reproductions issued by ACLU in 1965, Lawyers Constitutional Defense Committee.?]
Artist’s chop in red lower right. |
|||||||||||
| 56.2 x 42.7 cm | |||||||||||
| 7 | [Antennae] [1953] | ||||||||||
| Print. Thicket of black crossed lines, suggesting television antennas. Signature on one of the lines, lower right. |
|||||||||||
| 45 x 64.9 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 22 | [Bicycle Act] (undated) | |||||||||
| Reproductive print, possibly of 1950 drawing with that title. Two cyclists supporting suited [acrobat?] on their heads. Three
copies. |
|||||||||||
| 34.2 x 21.5 cm | |||||||||||
| 23 | Carpenters Building Wall (1940-1942) | ||||||||||
| Photograph postcard, identifying original work as a watercolor study for the mural on the Social Security Administration building
in Washington, D.C. Three copies. |
|||||||||||
| 16.8 x 29.3 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 16 | [Clown] (undated) | |||||||||
| Print. Man in motley shirt with white ruff, writing “Ben Shahn.” Sketched horse under the man’s feet. Based on watercolor
Clown (1955). Three copies. See book cover proof sheets using this design in Box 5, Folder 13. |
|||||||||||
| 28.8 x 21.9 cm | |||||||||||
| 17 | The Dreyfus Affair - [Le Capitaine Dreyfus] [1984] | ||||||||||
| Blueline print (cyanotype?). Man with head slightly turned, hat with bill and decorative lines, "14 14" on collar. Three
variations. |
|||||||||||
| 39.3 x 30.3 cm | |||||||||||
| 17 | The Dreyfus Affair - [Du Paty de Clam] [1984] | ||||||||||
| Blueline print (cyanotype?). Head profile. Three variations. |
|||||||||||
| 39.3 x 30.3 cm | |||||||||||
| 18 | The Dreyfus Affair - Esterhazy [1984] | ||||||||||
| Print portrait. |
|||||||||||
| 39.3 x 30.3 cm | |||||||||||
| 18 | The Dreyfus Affair - Les experts: Couard, Varinaid, Belhomme, Feyssennières [1984] | ||||||||||
| Print. Three men standing, written title. |
|||||||||||
| 39.3 x 30.3 cm | |||||||||||
| 18 | The Dreyfus Affair - [Georges Picquart] [1984] | ||||||||||
| Blueline print (cyanotype?). Uniformed man, head facing forward, hat cut off. Three variations. |
|||||||||||
| 39.3 x 30.3 cm | |||||||||||
| 19 | The Dreyfus Affair - Labori et Piquart [1984] | ||||||||||
| Print. Two men standing, written title. Two copies. |
|||||||||||
| 39.2 x 30.3 cm | |||||||||||
| 19 | The Dreyfus Affair - Me. Labori [1984] | ||||||||||
| Print. Bust of man, written title. |
|||||||||||
| 39.3 x 30.3 cm | |||||||||||
| 20 | The Dreyfus Affair - [Paleologe et Demange] [1984] | ||||||||||
| Blueline print (cyanotype?). Two men standing, one with cape and one with hat, vest and walking stick. Three variations. |
|||||||||||
| 39.3 x 30.3 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 5 | 7 | [The Eagles Brood] [c. 1947] | |||||||||
| Print. Brown outline drawing of two seated men, one resting his head on his hand. Three copies. One copy has graphite notation
on verso: “P238”. |
|||||||||||
| 37.9 x 30.3 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 24 | East Twelfth Street (undated) | |||||||||
| Reproductive print of [1947] painting. Three people, facing away, walking down a street. Three copies. |
|||||||||||
| 19.1 x 25.1 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 5 | 7 | [Einstein] [1950] | |||||||||
| Print. Outline portrait in black. Man’s wrinkled, face with moustache, incomplete cheeks, no ears. Signature lower right.
Graphite notes on verso “p 241” and “Z 187”. |
|||||||||||
| 46 x 30.3 cm | |||||||||||
| 8 | Frederick Douglass [1965] | ||||||||||
| Four different prints from the Frederick Douglass Portfolio. Portraits drawn in black with name above and Ben Shahn signature below. Print I: portrait with trimmed beard, name in brown,
graphite note on verso “ZZ 127 b p. 97”. Print II: portrait with moustache and no beard, name in brown, signed in graphite
and numbered 223/250, graphite note on verso “x286 p 98”. Print III: portrait with heavy beard, name in brown, graphite note
lower right corner a circled “3”, graphite note on verso “ZZ 127a p. 99”. Portrait IV: portrait with heavy beard, strong line
encircling hair, name in red, verso note in graphite “ZZ107”, verso stamp in green “copyright 1965 by Ben Shahn”. |
|||||||||||
| Print I: 56.2 x 42.8 cm
Print II: 56 x 42.4 cm Print III: 58 x 45.2 cm Print IV: 56.1 x 42.5 cm |
|||||||||||
| 9 | [God's Almighty Arm] [1965] | ||||||||||
| Three prints, each with a different background of colored figures and a text block with Hebrew text. Verso of one has graphite
note “2058 22-20-3”. |
|||||||||||
| 39.1 x 30.2 cm (image 23.5 x 16 cm) | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 25 | [Handball] (undated) | |||||||||
| Reproductive print of [1939] original. Street scene - Men playing handball in front of a white wall. Two observers. Three
copies. |
|||||||||||
| 22 x 33.2 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 5 | 9 | “I have the right to believe freely” [1960] | |||||||||
| Print, possibly artist proof. Lion surrounded by flames with stylized script [Martin Luther] quote below. Black. Possibly
titled Credo. See also Box 4, Folder 9. |
|||||||||||
| 41.3 x 54.7 cm | |||||||||||
| 10 | James Chaney [1965] | ||||||||||
| Print. Portrait drawn in black with red printed name above and Ben Shahn signature below. Identified in list accompanying
accrual donation as from a portfolio of reproductions issued by ACLU in 1965, Lawyers Constitutional Defense Committee. Graphite
note on verso “ZZ 109”. |
|||||||||||
| 55 x 41.8 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 21 | “A Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year” [1960-1969] | |||||||||
| Print. Lettering and design of the words. Three copies. See “A Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year” drawings in Box 1, Folder 10 and in Box 1, Folder 10. |
|||||||||||
| 27 x 36 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 5 | 10 | Michael Schwerner [1965] | |||||||||
| Print. Portrait drawn in black with red printed name above and Ben Shahn signature below. Identified in list accompanying
accrual donation as from a portfolio of reproductions issued by ACLU in 1965, Lawyers Constitutional Defense Committee. Graphite
note on verso “ZZ 108”. |
|||||||||||
| 55.5 x 42.8 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 26 | [Myself Among the Churchgoers] (undated) | |||||||||
| Reproductive print of [1939] original. Street scene before church. Three copies on paper and one mounted on cardboard. Written
on cardboard mount: “Note: Before painting was damaged & restored.” |
|||||||||||
| Paper: 20.8 x 30.2 cm Cardboard: 20.3 x 26.9 cm |
|||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 21 | “Nothing is More Estimable” [1963] | |||||||||
| Print. Voltaire quote in red above bust of man [Voltaire?] wearing, 18th century vest and coat. Two copies. Verso of one identifies
print as a press sheet from Love and Joy about Letters by Ben Shahn. |
|||||||||||
| 35.5 x 25.8 cm 36 x 26.2 cm |
|||||||||||
| 22 | “On the first day of Christmas” [1951?] | ||||||||||
| Reproductive print. Caption: “ ‘The First Day of Christmas’ a painting by Ben Shahn, reprinted from Charm Magazine, December, 1951.” Three copies. |
|||||||||||
| 36.2 x 29.2 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 27 | [Paterson] (undated) | |||||||||
| Reproductive print. Color blocks with black lintels. The original Paterson is a 1953 print with watercolors. Two copies on paper and one mounted on cardboard. |
|||||||||||
| Paper: 23.2 x 16.1 cm Cardboard: 22.3 x 17.3 cm |
|||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 22 | [Pleiades] [1960] | |||||||||
| Print. Line and angle pattern with colored blocks in tan, blues and purple, and Hebrew text. |
|||||||||||
| 25.7 x 35.2 cm. | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 28 | [Portrait of Myself when Young] (undated) | |||||||||
| Reproductive print of [Portrait of Myself when Young], [1943]. Four musicians playing on street. Three copies. |
|||||||||||
| 19.2 x 30 cm | |||||||||||
| 29 | [Spring] [1970?] | ||||||||||
| Reproductive print of 1947 original painting. Couple lying in grass. Fence, path and jump roping couple in background. Two
copies. |
|||||||||||
| 14.3 x 22.7 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 23 | “Teach thy tongue to say I do not know and thou shalt progress” [1954] | |||||||||
| Print. Bearded man holding plaque inscribed with the Maimonides quote. |
|||||||||||
| 26.5 x 35.7 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 5 | 10 | We Shall Overcome [1965] | |||||||||
| Print. Portrait drawn in black with red printed name above and Ben Shahn signature below. Identified in list accompanying
accrual donation as from a portfolio of nine reproductions issued by ACLU in 1965. Graphite note on verso “ZZ 105”. |
|||||||||||
| 56 x 43 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 1 | Untitled (undated) | |||||||||
| Reproductive print. Landscape with red stake fence. Brown hill beyond. Power lines and a walking figure in distance. Two copies.
|
|||||||||||
| 15.5 x 33.5 cm | |||||||||||
| 1 | Untitled (undated) | ||||||||||
| Reproductive print. Man lying in pool of blood. |
|||||||||||
| 21.5 x 31 cm | |||||||||||
| 1 | Untitled (undated) | ||||||||||
| Print. Portrait of a bearded man. Man holds a pair of glasses. |
|||||||||||
| 30.2 x 21.1 cm | |||||||||||
| 2-3 | Untitled, Folders 1-2 (undated) | ||||||||||
| Reproductive prints, double-sided, some folded. 45 sheets. |
|||||||||||
| 27.8 x 21.5 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 23 | Untitled [1963] | |||||||||
| Reproductive print. Caption: “An illustration by Ben Shahn from A Boy of Old Prague by Sulamith Ish-Kishor. Published by Pantheon Books.” Three copies. |
|||||||||||
| 35.6 x 28 cm | |||||||||||
| 24 | Untitled (1945) | ||||||||||
| Reproductive print. Blue. Boy on diving board. [Japanese?] captions. Three copies. |
|||||||||||
| 25.8 x 34.4 cm | |||||||||||
| 24 | Untitled [1960-1969] | ||||||||||
| Print. Dove with red Hebrew seal. Seal: Alphabet of Creation. Three copies. |
|||||||||||
| 25.5 x 33 cm | |||||||||||
| 25 | Untitled [1967] | ||||||||||
| Print. Dark brown, dark blue and black. Head in profile, with clasped hands, facing imaginary constellation chart. From Ben
Shahn, Ecclesiastes. See Untitled print Box 3, Folder 26. |
|||||||||||
| 25.9 x 33 cm | |||||||||||
| 25 | Untitled [1941? 1965?] | ||||||||||
| Print. Female head. From Ben Shahn, Ecclesiastes, a lithograph in black. Two copies. See “And mine eyes a fountain of tears” Box 3, Folder 33. |
|||||||||||
| 33 x 25.4 cm | |||||||||||
| 25 | Untitled [1963] | ||||||||||
| Print. Male mask with Hebrew text. Yellow. [“The Morning Star” with text from the Book of Job, from Ben Shahn, Love and Joy about Letters.] |
|||||||||||
| 26.5 x 35.6 cm | |||||||||||
| 26 | Untitled [1931] | ||||||||||
| Print. Dark brown. Male nude in sun. Pencil notes on front and verso. [“Every Slave”, from Levana and Our Ladies of Sorrow Portfolio.] |
|||||||||||
| 38.4 x 29.5 cm | |||||||||||
| 26 | Untitled [1967] | ||||||||||
| Print. Dark brown, with stylized figure defined by black lines. Male torso with sun over shoulder. From Ben Shahn, Ecclesiastes. |
|||||||||||
| 33 x 25.5 cm | |||||||||||
| 26 | Untitled [1965? 1967?] | ||||||||||
| Print. Man standing in contemplation of imaginary constellation chart. Caption: “Plate 11.” See Untitled print Box 3, Folder 25. Three copies. |
|||||||||||
| 33 x 27.9 cm | |||||||||||
| 27 | Untitled [1967] | ||||||||||
| Lithograph, brown. Sketch of nude female torso from back. From Ben Shahn, Ecclesiastes. |
|||||||||||
| 33 x 25.3 cm | |||||||||||
| 27 | Untitled [1967] | ||||||||||
| Lithograph, brown. Sketch of seated man. From Ben Shahn, Ecclesiastes.
|
|||||||||||
| 33 x 26 cm | |||||||||||
| 27 | Untitled [1967] | ||||||||||
| Print. Caption: “This is a specimen page of Trianon Press Edition of Ecclesiastes.” Hebrew letters set in flower and stem pattern above text starting “Chapter 2. I said in mine heart …” |
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| 33 x 25.5 cm | |||||||||||
| 27 | Untitled (undated) | ||||||||||
| Reproductive print. Three heads in shades of brown and black. Caption: “Plate 25.” Three copies. |
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| 33 x 28 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 5 | 11 | Untitled [1969-1970] | |||||||||
| Print. Black outline of robed youth blowing a long horn. [From Psalm 150]. Graphite note lower right “Mourlot lith.” See also
Hallelujah, Box , Folder. |
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| 50.9 x 64.8 cm | |||||||||||
| 11 | Untitled [1959] | ||||||||||
| Print. Stylized black mask with colored highlights. Gold printed signature and “A. Manaranche Lith.” Three copies. |
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| 75.5 x 53.5 cm | |||||||||||
| OTHER MATERIAL | |||||||||||
| Summary:This series comprises 34 folders ranging from legal to oversized and totaling approximately 4.5 cubic feet. The series includes
advertisements, a calendar, correspondence and drafts for Alphabet of Creation, invitations, mock-ups, proof sheets and stencil cut-outs, among other materials. Arrangement for this listing is alphabetical
by first line, title or subject. Physically, arrangement is by size. Other Material can be found in Boxes, 2,3, 3a and 5,
and in an oversized Drawer. For many of the large and unwieldy works, digital images are available subject to copyright restrictions.
Digital images have also been printed and can be found in Box 2, Folder 16 (Printed Images of Digitized Other Material). These prints are not included in the item count above. |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 4 | Alphabet of Creation – Correspondence (1953) | |||||||||
|
From folder labeled “Preparatory Material – Alphabet of Creation Text & Notes.” |
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| 21.6 x 28 cm | |||||||||||
| 5-6 | Alphabet of Creation – Drafts, Folders 1-2 [1954? 1965?] | ||||||||||
| From folder labeled “Preparatory Material – Alphabet of Creation Text & Notes.” |
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| Various sizes under 24 x 37 cm | |||||||||||
| 7 | Alphabet of Creation – Illustrations [1954? 1965?] | ||||||||||
| From folder labeled “More Alphabet of C. The Other Versions & the Alphabet Version with Changes.” |
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| Various sizes under 24 x 37 cm | |||||||||||
| 8 | Alphabet of Creation – Marked Up Proof Signatures [1954? 1965?] | ||||||||||
| From folder labeled “Preparatory Material – Alphabet of Creation Text & Notes.” |
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| Various sizes under 24 x 37 cm | |||||||||||
| 9 | Alphabet of Creation – Mock-Up Signatures [1954? 1965?] | ||||||||||
| From folder labeled “Preparatory Material – Alphabet of Creation Text & Notes.” |
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| Various sizes under 24 x 37 cm | |||||||||||
| 10 | Alphabet of Creation – Preparatory Material [1954? 1965?] | ||||||||||
| From folder labeled “Preparatory Material – Alphabet of Creation Text & Notes.” |
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| Various sizes under 24 x 37 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 28-32 | Alphabet of Creation – Proof Sheets, Folders 1-5 [1954? 1965?] | |||||||||
| Marked and cut proof sheets for Alphabet of Creation. From folder labeled “Alphabet of Creation Book Sheets Fine Paper” and “Alphabet of C Proofs.” |
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| Various sizes: near 27.5 x 34 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 5 | 12 | Alphabet of Creation – Proof Sheets [1954? 1965?] | |||||||||
| Eight unfolded printed sheets for Alphabet of Creation. |
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| 55.6 x 34.2 cm | |||||||||||
| 13 | Alphabet of Creation – Proof Sheets, Illustrations [1954? 1965?] | ||||||||||
| Two illustration proof sheets. From folder labeled “Alphabet of Creation Book Sheets Fine Paper” and “Alphabet of C Proofs.” |
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| 45.5 x 36 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 11 | Alphabet of Creation – Proof Sheets, Shaddai [1954? 1965?] | |||||||||
| From folder labeled “Preparatory Material – Alphabet of Creation Text & Notes.” |
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| Various sizes under 24 x 37 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 33 | “And mine eyes a fountain of tears” [1941? 1965?] | |||||||||
| Folded invitation to a benefit for Women Strike for Peace, with cover text “and mine eyes a fountain of tears.” Two copies.
See Untitled print Box 3, Folder 25. |
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| 30.5 x 23.1 cm, folded | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| Drawer | 13 | “Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge” [1955] | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn D13-6897
Positive lithographic transparent acetate film with letters and partial design drawn in ink. Backed with torn, colored tissue paper. [For poster advertising the play.] The film and tissue have been encapsulated to protect it as much as possible from damage in handling. It is available, but is fragile and the folder is large and awkward. If possible, please see Printed Images of Digitized Other Material, Box 2, Folder 16, rather than original. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
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| 73.3 x 56.1 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 34 | Ben Shahn Kalender (1969) | |||||||||
| Illustrated calendar published by N.V. de Arbeiderspers/Het Vrije Volk, Amsterdam. |
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| 42 x 27.5 cm | |||||||||||
| 35 | CBS (undated) | ||||||||||
| Folded advertisement for Columbia Broadcasting. |
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| 37.9 x 30.4 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 12 | “Children” (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn 2-12 Paste-up on cardboard of the title page or cover of an Atlantic magazine supplement. |
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| 26 x 21 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 13 | “Dear Ben Shahn” (1951) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn 2-13 Paste-up of a note to Ben Shahn in ink, attached to cardboard, with a tracing paper overlay. Signature of sender illegible. Overlay has notes in graphite and marker, with a heading “Form II.” |
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| 30.3 x 23 cm | |||||||||||
| 14 | Ecclesiastes – Mock-Up Signature (undated) | ||||||||||
| From folder labeled “Ecclesiastes Material.” |
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| 31.7 x 24.2 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 35 | “Electronic Brain on War and Peace” [1954?] | |||||||||
| Illustration for an article by Norman Cousins. Mounted on cardboard. |
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| 28.6 x 42 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 15 | Exhibition Announcements (1957, 1968) | |||||||||
| “The Graphic Work of Ben Shahn: The American Institute of Graphic Arts.” Three copies. “Exhibition of Twentieth Century Paintings,”
Kennedy Galleries, New York. Two copies. |
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| Various sizes under 25 x 37 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 5 | 13 | Hagaddah for Passover - Illustration Proof [1965] | |||||||||
| Menorah from Ben Shahn, Haggadah for Passover. Blue and purple, printed on right side of page. Two copies. |
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| 36.1 x 58.2 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3a | 1-9 | Hallelujah - Unbound Signatures (Folders 1-9) [1988] | |||||||||
| Suite of 26 unbound original lithographs printed on 13 leaves illustrating the 150th Psalm from the Old Testament, each lithograph
with facing calligraphy in black and yellow. These signatures are a miniature version of the work that was originally published
posthumously in large format by the Kennedy Graphics Division of the Kennedy Galleries in 1970 (for the copy in the Rutgers
University Libraries, see Oversized Rare Books, ND 3357.S53 1970). As received, multiple copies of each leaf were wrapped
in paper, with sequential identifying notations: “X-30 2/19/88, 49” through “X-42 2/19/88, 49”. One leaf, unidentified, may
the “X-37” leaf. Three copies of each leaf were retained. Photocopies of the identifying wrappers are included in the folders.
Folders and contents follow: Folder 1 (X30 - X31), Folder 2 (X32 – X33), Folder 3 (X34 – X35), Folder 4 (X36 - unlabeled),
Folder 5 (X38 – X39), Folder 6 (X40 – X 41), Folder 7 (X42). In addition, photocopies of the leaves have been made. Folder
8 contains a set of double-sided photocopies of the sheets with reference to the location of each the large 1970 edition.
Folder 9 contains one-sided photocopies of the front and back of each leaf. |
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| 17.7 x 38.7 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| Drawer | 14 | Hebrew quotation (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn D14-6900
Proof sheet, quotation above drawing of a man with his hands crossed in front of his chest and holding a bouquet. Similar to print: “You have not converted a man because you have silenced him,” dated in different sources either 1955-1959 or 1968. Lines and markings showing corners and lines to be eliminated in the final printing. Verso: “Corrected print for Flowering Bushes.” This proof sheet is available, but the folder is large and awkward. If possible, please see Printed Images of Digitized Other Material, Box 2, Folder 16, rather than original. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
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| 105.7 x 75.5 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 5 | 14 | “Life New Life” (undated) | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn 5-8 Stencil, cardboard with cut out letters framed with wood. |
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| 50.6 x 56.5 cm | |||||||||||
| 15 | “Oh Lord our Father, our young patriots” (1966) | ||||||||||
| Encapsulated newspaper page. Quote from ‘The War Prayer’ by Mark Twain, with drawing of a crowd of suited men with crutches
and canes. “One of a series of Messages for Peace.” Advertisement from The New York Times, Sunday, May 29, 1966, Section E, p. 7. Pencil note re printing changes left margin. See also “Oh Lord our Father, our young patriots” in Box 4 Folder 3 and Box 3 Folder 2. |
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| 58.3 x 37.6 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 16 | Printed Images of Digitized Other Material (undated) | |||||||||
| D13-6897 “Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge” D14-6900 Hebrew Quotation D14-6901 Untitled (Proof book jacket - Ben Shahn Paintings) D14-6903 Untitled (Blueprint Hebrew Lettering) |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 17 | Schuman, William. In Praise of Shahn: Canticle for Orchestra. Merion Music, Inc.: Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania (1971) | |||||||||
| Music score, signed by composer on title page. | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 18 | The Sight and Sound of Children and God (1962) | |||||||||
| Illustrated folder holding thin vinyl phono disk (playable at 33.3 rpm). Illustrations by Ben Shahn. Sound by Tony Schwartz.
Two copies. |
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| 18.5 x 20.2 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 5 | 15 | “There never has been a just one” (1967) | |||||||||
| Encapsulated newspaper page. Quote from The Mysterious Stranger by Mark Twain, with drawing of seated, robed man [Gandhi] and text. Advertisement from The New York Times, Sunday, December 31, 1967, Section E, p. 5. “One of a series of Messages for Peace.” See also: Box 1 Folder 15 Box 4 Folder 13 Box 4 Folder 14 Box 3 Folder 3 Drawer Folder 6 Drawer Folder 15 |
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| 58.5 x 37.6 cm | |||||||||||
| 16 | “A Year of Growth” (1966) | ||||||||||
| Cover art and end pages, “Wheatfield” by Ben Shahn from the New Jersey State Museum collection. Printed on two sides. “A Report of the Activities of the New Jersey
State Museum from October 16, 1965 to June 30, 1966.” Three copies. |
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| 66.1 x 50.8 cm | |||||||||||
| 17 | Untitled (undated) | ||||||||||
| Stat (copy). Black and white. Clown in domino, walking a tightrope and holding two sticks. Verso note: “Stat of clown – juggler.”
|
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| 61 x 45.7 cm | |||||||||||
| 18 | Untitled (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn 5-12 Cut outline of dove on heavy paper board, with cut out eye and bill, framed and supported by wood strips. Wing feathers lifted off the flat plane by a strip of wood. |
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| 76 x 50.7 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 5 | 19 | Untitled (undated) | |||||||||
| [Proof sheet] in two parts. Left side: [Clown], man in motley shirt with white ruff, writing “Ben Shahn.” Sketched horse under the man’s feet. Used as cover art for James
Thrall Soby, Ben Shahn: His Graphic Art. Right side: color blocks. Cover art for James Thrall Soby, Ben Shahn Paintings. See also print of clown Box 3, Folder 16 and untitled color block cover art, Ben Shahn D14-6901. |
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| 44.3 x 58.8 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 5 | 19 | Untitled (undated) | |||||||||
| Three Shahn illustrations taped to large sheet. Verso: “Mark up for Artfront pages." |
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| 39.3 x 56.5 cm | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| Drawer | 14 | Untitled [1963] | |||||||||
| Ben Shahn D14-6901 [Proof] book jacket for James Thrall Soby, Ben Shahn Paintings. Color block cover art, Shahn signature, spine information and book description. This proof sheet is available, but the folder is large and awkward. If possible, please see Printed Images of Digitized Other Material, Box 2, Folder 16, rather than original. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. See also proof sheet Box 5, Folder 13. |
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| 58.3 x 71.5 cm | |||||||||||
| 14 | Untitled (undated) | ||||||||||
| Ben Shahn D14-6903 Blueprint of Hebrew lettering decorated with leaf patterns. This blueprint is available, but tends to curl strongly and the folder is large and awkward. If possible, please see Printed Images of Digitized Other Material, Box 2, Folder 16, rather than original. Digital image available on request, subject to copyright restrictions. |
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| 82.4 x 65.6 cm | |||||||||||