Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 10
Ben ShahnCulture1968
1968
About the Item
Ben Shahn created this 1968 serigraph entitled “CULTURE” in black ink with red calligraphy. This is an UNSIGNED impression. Provenance; Shahn estate, private collector, The Old Print Shop.
In “The Complete Graphic Works of Ben Shahn” (1973) by Prescott, it is noted that the edition is unspecified but he goes on to add “there are 73 known impressions with 9 unsigned.” The paper size is 26.5 x 20.5 inches. This piece is in good condition and printed on deckle-edge paper.
The printed text reads: “CULTURE IS ACTONES, EPISODES, NODES, NODAL CHAINS, SCENES SERIALS, NOMOCLONES, PERMANIC TYPES, PERMACLONIC SYSTEMS & PERMACLONIC SUPERSYSTEMS. CULTURE Is Also PHONEMES, MORPHEMES, WORDS, Semantically Equivalent UTTERANCES, BEHAVIOR PLANS, & many other EMIC Things.” The satirical quotation is from ‘The Nature of Cultural Things’ by Marvin Harris.
“The elegantly gowned 'bird' in this print is wearing what appears to be a traditional scholar's rode adorned with an ermine-like collar. The line connecting the eyes suggests a pair of wire spectacles. The hands, always conveyors of Shahn's thoughts, are piously folded, quite befitting someone who is about to deliver a learned definition of culture." - Prescott.
BEN SHAHN (1898-1969) printmaker, painter, muralist, was born in Kovno, Lithuania, in 1898. He arrived in the United States in 1908 with his family and settled in Brooklyn. He was apprenticed to a lithographer after finishing elementary school at the age of fourteen. As an apprentice, he spent long hours of work grinding stones and lettering stones. He once stated that he made "thousands and thousands of letters." It is fortunate that he liked the history of alphabets because he would use them throughout his artistic career. Often the subject of a drawing became a print and/or a painting. Shahn believed in hard work and craftsmanship - qualities that would stay with him throughout his career.
- Creator:Ben Shahn (1898-1969, American)
- Creation Year:1968
- Dimensions:Height: 26.5 in (67.31 cm)Width: 20.75 in (52.71 cm)Depth: 0.94 in (2.39 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Framing:Framing Options Available
- Condition:A beautiful impression.
- Gallery Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:
About the Seller
4.6
Recognized Seller
These prestigious sellers are industry leaders and represent the highest echelon for item quality and design.
Established in 1898
1stDibs seller since 2015
50 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 to 2 days
Associations
International Fine Print Dealers Association
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: New York, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- Manhattan BridgeBy Louis LozowickLocated in New York, NYThis lithograph by Louis Lozowick was created in 1934. This scarce piece was printed in an edition of 10 and in very good condition. It is signed and dated in the lower right with ...Category
Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Blind BotanistBy Ben ShahnLocated in New York, NYThis 1963 lithograph, printed in color, is a fine example of Ben Shahn’s long preoccupation with the theme of the blind botanist and illustrates his con...Category
Late 20th Century Modern Figurative Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- TrafficBy Louis LozowickLocated in New York, NYLouis Lozowick created the lithograph entitled Traffic in 1930. This stunning impression is signed and dated in pencil in the lower right just under the image and inscribed "2/20" i...Category
Mid-20th Century Modern More Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- LevanaBy Ben ShahnLocated in New York, NYThis elegant Ben Shahn lithograph entitled “Levana” was created in 1966. It was printed by Gemini G. E. L., Los Angeles, California, in an editi...Category
1960s Modern Figurative Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Tanks #1.By Louis LozowickLocated in New York, NYThis 1929 lithograph by Louis Lozowick was printed in an edition of 50. Lozowick signed this impression in pencil lower right with a monogram on stone, in the lower left. The sheet...Category
Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Hidden Cities III : ContinuumBy Peter MiltonLocated in New York, NY“HIDDEN CITIES III : CONTINUUM” Contemporary artist Peter Milton created this etching and engraving in 2006. The printed image size is 24 x 37 inches and the paper size 32 x 45 inc...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Prints
MaterialsEngraving, Etching
You May Also Like
- HomerBy Valerio AdamiLocated in San Francisco, CAThis artwork titled "Homer" 1979 is an original colors serigraph on Stonehenge Wove paper by noted Italian artist Valerio Adami, b.1935. It is hand signed and numbered 6/75 in pencil by the artist. Published by Editions Press, San Francisco. The image size is 37.5 x 21.75 inches, framed size is 45.75 x 29.15 inches. Custom framed in a metal gold frame, with beige fabric matting. The artwork is in excellent condition, the frame is in very good condition, it has some minor scratches. About the artist: Valerio Adami was born in Bologna. In 1935, at the age of ten, he began to study painting under the instruction of Felice Carena. He was accepted into the Brera Academy (Accademia di Brera) in 1951, and there studied as a draughtsman until 1954 in the studio of Achille Funi. In 1955 he went to Paris, where he met and was influenced by Roberto Matta and Wifredo Lam. His first solo exhibition came in 1959 in Milan. In his early career, Adami's works were expressionistic, but by the time of his second exhibition in 1964 at Kassel, he had developed a style of painting reminiscent of French cloisonnism, featuring regions of flat color bordered by black lines. Unlike Gauguin, however, Adami's subjects were highly stylized and often presented in fragments, as seen in Telescoping Rooms (1965). In the 1970s, Adami began to address politics in his art, and incorporated subject matter such as modern European history, literature, philosophy, and mythology. In 1971, he and his brother Gioncarlo created the film Vacances dans le désert. In 1974 he illustrated a Helmut Heissenbuttel poem, Occasional Poem No. 27. Ten Lessons on the Reich with ten original lithographs {Gallerie Maeght...Category
Late 20th Century Modern Figurative Prints
MaterialsScreen
- Happy Birthday Liberty, 100th Birthday of the Statue of Liberty. Large serigraphBy Hiro YamagataLocated in San Francisco, CAThis artwork titled "Happy Birthday Liberty, 100th Birthday of the Statue of Liberty" 1986 is an original color serigraph on thick paper by renown artist Hiro Yamagata (Japanese, b. ...Category
Late 20th Century Modern Figurative Prints
MaterialsScreen
- PlatformLocated in San Francisco, CAThis artwork titled "Platform" 1963 is an original silkscreen by American artist Kenneth William Auvil, 1925-1999. It is signed, dated, titled and numbered 9/27 in pencil by the artist. The image size is 17 x 11.25 inches, framed size is 23.5 x 17.65 inches. Custom framed in a bronze color metal frame. It is in good condition, paper is slightly toned by age. About the artist: Educational Background University of Washington, 1953 MFA Art University of Washington, 1949 BA Art Teaching Experience San Jose State University, 1956 -1988 Selected Publications Serigraphy: Silk Screen Techniques for the Artist, Prentice‑Hall, 1965‑1996. Activities: Learning to Use the Macintosh Computer...Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern More Prints
MaterialsScreen
- HomerBy Valerio AdamiLocated in San Francisco, CAArtist: Valerio Adami – Italian (1935- ) Title: Homer Year: 1979 Medium: serigraph Sight size: 38 x 22 inches. Sheet size: 42 x 25 inches Signature: Signed lower right Edition size:...Category
1970s Modern Figurative Prints
MaterialsScreen
- Caprichos AmericanoBy Valerio AdamiLocated in San Francisco, CAArtist: Valerio Adami – Italian (1935- ) Title: Caprichos Americano Year: 1979 Medium: serigraph Sight size: 39.5 x 29.75 inches. Sheet size: 39.5 x 29.75 inches Signature: Signed l...Category
1970s Modern Figurative Prints
MaterialsScreen
- PreludeBy Valerio AdamiLocated in San Francisco, CAArtist: Valerio Adami – Italian (1935- ) Title: Prelude Year: 1979 Medium: serigraph Sight size: 29.75 x39.5 inches. Sheet size: 29.75 x 39.5 inches Signature: Signed lower right Ed...Category
1970s Modern Figurative Prints
MaterialsScreen
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Vintage Chain Print
Chain Screen
Gown Shopping
Gown Shop
Calligraphy Screen
Screen With Calligraphy
White Folding Screen
Used Spectacles
Birds Folding Screen
Harris Stone
Ben Shahn Lithographs
Alphabet Vintage Letters
Alphabet Letters Vintage
Letters Vintage Alphabet
Used Conveyors
Retro Alphabet Letters
Ben Folds
Ermine Vintage