Hugo Gellert

Century of the Common Man
1943

A stylized print depicting two standing men and two seated women with three children, rendered in bold red, blue, and black colors. The man on the left holds a pitchfork, and the group appears to be a collective representation of a family or community. The artwork has a signature in the bottom right corner.

Not on view

Date
1943

Classification
Prints

Medium
Screenprint and lithograph

Dimensions
Sheet (open): 20 × 32in. (50.8 × 81.3 cm) Sheet (folded): 20 × 16in. (50.8 × 40.6 cm) Image (irregular): 15 3/16 × 13in. (38.6 × 33 cm)

Accession number
2013.62.14

Edition
Edition unknown | Edition possibly 54

Publication
Published by International Workers Order

Credit line
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase, with funds from the Print Committee

Rights and reproductions
© Estate of Hugo Gellert, courtesy Mary Ryan Gallery, New York

API
artworks/43452

Part of a series:
Century of the Common Man: Two Speeches by Henry A. Wallace
20 works

A stylized print featuring a man and a child with red and blue tones against a red background. The man, looking pensive and slightly downward, wears a blue suit, while the child gazes at him. In the foreground, there's a table with a glass of milk, a blue knife, and a plate with grapes and apples, all resting on a vibrant red tablecloth. The artwork has a bold, graphic quality with a limited color palette.

Illustration of a baby standing between two large red hands, holding an olive branch in one hand and a flame in the other, against a blue background. The artwork has a signature at the bottom right corner.

Illustration of a menacing figure with bull-like features, wearing a military uniform with a swastika armband, standing over a broken figure spilling coins. The bull figure's hands are dripping with blood, symbolizing violence and oppression.

A vintage book cover with the title "CENTURY OF THE COMMON MAN" featuring two speeches by Henry A. Wallace, Vice-President of the United States, with silk screen prints by Hugo Gellert, published by International Workers Order in New York.

A vibrant propaganda poster featuring a handshake between two large, muscular hands, one with a red star on the cuff and the other with a peace symbol. Above the handshake, a small figure in a military uniform is depicted cheering with raised fists against a blue background.

A stylized print featuring a muscular figure in blue with a red glove and cap, standing above a blue sea with grey submarines. The background is split with a yellow top half. The figure appears to be dropping coins or metal pieces into the water, creating ripples around the submarines.

A stylized print depicting a group of solemn-faced individuals seated around a table, with a prominent blue and red color scheme. In the center of the table lies a pair of pliers, a nail, and a bolt, suggesting a theme of labor or industry. The background features a simple representation of mountains under a blue sky. The artwork has a signature at the bottom right corner.

Exhibitions

Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s Collection, 1900–1960

Apr 28, 2017–June 2, 2019

Hugo Gellert
87 works in the collection

View artist

Hugo Gellert

Century of the Common Man 1943

Exhibitions

Hugo Gellert 87 works in the collection

Century of the Common Man
1943

Hugo Gellert
87 works in the collection