Ben Shahn

Everyman
1954

This is an abstract painting featuring stylized figures in a fragmented composition. The top figure has a reddish face looking upwards, with a black suit and white shirt. Below, a figure with a blue and red checkered pattern on the torso holds a cigarette, wearing a brown hat and glasses. The bottom figure has a spiral motif on the face and is surrounded by similar checkered patterns. The background includes indistinct shapes and lines suggesting an interior space with chairs. The artwork is signed "Ben Shahn" at the bottom right.

This is an abstract painting featuring stylized figures in a fragmented composition. The top figure has a reddish face looking upwards, with a black suit and white shirt. Below, a figure with a blue and red checkered pattern on the torso holds a cigarette, wearing a brown hat and glasses. The bottom figure has a spiral motif on the face and is surrounded by similar checkered patterns. The background includes indistinct shapes and lines suggesting an interior space with chairs. The artwork is signed "Ben Shahn" at the bottom right.

Not on view

Date
1954

Classification
Paintings

Medium
Tempera and oil on canvas mounted to composition board

Dimensions
Overall: 72 1/8 × 24in. (183.2 × 61 cm)

Accession number
56.5

Credit line
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase

Rights and reproductions
© Estate of Ben Shahn / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

API
artworks/455

Exhibitions

Human Interest: Portraits from the Whitney’s Collection

Apr 2, 2016–Apr 2, 2017

Ben Shahn
13 works in the collection

View artist