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Ben Shahn Portrait Prints

American, 1898-1969
Ben Shahn (1898 – 1969) was a Lithuanian-born American artist. He is best known for his works of social realism, his left-wing political views, and his series of lectures published as The Shape of Content. Shahn began his path to becoming an artist in New York, where he was first trained as a lithographer. Shahn's early experiences with lithography and graphic design is apparent in his later prints and paintings which often include the combination of text and image. Shahn's primary medium was egg tempera, popular among social realists. Shahn mixed different genres of art. His body of art is distinctive for its lack of traditional landscapes, still lifes, and portraits. Shahn used both expressive and precise visual languages, which he coalesced through the consistency of his authoritative line. Shahn is also noted for his use of unique symbolism, which is often compared to the imagery in Paul Klee's drawings. His art is striking but also introspective. He often captured figures engrossed in their own worlds. Although he used many mediums, his pieces are consistently thoughtful and playful.
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Artist: Ben Shahn
Martin Luther King from The Nine Drawings Suite, Modern Lithograph by Ben Shahn
By Ben Shahn
Located in Long Island City, NY
The Nine Drawings Portfolio is a strong example of Shahn’s commitment to the struggle for social justice and racial equity. It was “published and distributed as part of a fund-raisin...
Category

1960s Modern Ben Shahn Portrait Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Frederick Douglass from The Nine Drawings Suite, Modern Lithograph by Ben Shahn
By Ben Shahn
Located in Long Island City, NY
The Nine Drawings Portfolio is a strong example of Shahn’s commitment to the struggle for social justice and racial equity. It was “published and distributed as part of a fund-raisin...
Category

1960s Modern Ben Shahn Portrait Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Ben Shahn, Silkscreen with Old Testament Psalm 57 Signed/N + provenance letter
By Ben Shahn
Located in New York, NY
Ben Shahn Silkscreen inspired by Old Testament Psalm 57, 1967 Silkscreen on Japon paper Hand signed and numbered 255/300 by the artist on the front, with a copy of the provenance let...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Ben Shahn Portrait Prints

Materials

Pencil, Screen

Andrew Goodman from The Nine Drawings Suite, Modern Lithograph by Ben Shahn
By Ben Shahn
Located in Long Island City, NY
The Nine Drawings Portfolio is a strong example of Shahn’s commitment to the struggle for social justice and racial equity. It was “published and distributed as part of a fund-raisin...
Category

1960s Modern Ben Shahn Portrait Prints

Materials

Lithograph

James Chaney from The Nine Drawings Suite, Modern Lithograph by Ben Shahn
By Ben Shahn
Located in Long Island City, NY
The Nine Drawings Portfolio is a strong example of Shahn’s commitment to the struggle for social justice and racial equity. It was “published and distributed as part of a fund-raisin...
Category

1960s Modern Ben Shahn Portrait Prints

Materials

Lithograph

We Shall Overcome, Portrait, MLK Lithograph by Ben Shahn
By Ben Shahn
Located in Long Island City, NY
The Nine Drawings Portfolio is a strong example of Shahn’s commitment to the struggle for social justice and racial equity. It was “published and distributed as part of a fund-raisin...
Category

1960s Modern Ben Shahn Portrait Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Michael Schwerner from The Nine Drawings Suite, Modern Lithograph by Ben Shahn
By Ben Shahn
Located in Long Island City, NY
The Nine Drawings Portfolio is a strong example of Shahn’s commitment to the struggle for social justice and racial equity. It was “published and distributed as part of a fund-raisin...
Category

1960s Modern Ben Shahn Portrait Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Skowhegan, Wood Engraving by Ben Shahn
By Ben Shahn
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Ben Shahn, Lithuanian/American (1898 - 1969) Title: Skowhegan Year: 1965 Medium: Wood Engraving, signed in pencil Edition: 200 (unnumbered) Image Size: 9 x 8 inches Size: 16 ...
Category

1960s American Realist Ben Shahn Portrait Prints

Materials

Woodcut

"Beside the Dying, " an Original Lithograph signed by Ben Shahn
By Ben Shahn
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Beside the Dying" is an original signed lithograph by Ben Shahn. This print is from the series "For the Sake of a Single Verse" and depicts the head of a man in dark gray seemingly asleep or dead on a white background. It is signed lower right and is edition 27/200. 22" x 17" art 32 3/8" x 27 3/8" frame Ben Shahn (American, September 12, 1898 - March 14, 1969) was a painter, lithographer, and photographer best known for his left-wing political leanings, works of social realism, and The Shape of Content, a publication of his lectures. Shahn was born in Kovno, Lithuania, when the country was still occupied by the Russian Empire. In 1902, Shahn's father, Joshua Hessel, was exiled to Siberia. Shahn then moved to Vilkomir, Lithuania, with his mother, Gittel, and his two siblings. Their family moved to the United States in 1906 to join their father who had fled from exile. After settling in Brooklyn, NY, Shahn began to train in lithography and graphic design, and his favorite medium was egg tempera. In 1919, Shahn enrolled in New York University to study Biology before entering the City College in 1921 to study Art. He also studied Art at the National Academy of Design. In the 1920s, Shahn and his wife traveled around Africa and Europe to study the works of renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881- 1973) and Raoul Dufy (French, 1877-1953). In 1933, Shahn worked as an assistant of Diego Rivera (Mexican, 1886 - 1957); at this time, Rivera was working on the mural at the Rockefeller Center in New York. Two years later, Shahn was recommended by Walker Evans (American, 1903 - 1975) to join the Farm Security Administration photographic group. One of the artist’s most famous works is the fresco mural he did for the Jersey Homesteads' community center. Shahn also worked on murals for the state on the Federal Security Building and the Bronx Central Annex Post Office. During the Second World War, Shahn made a series of paintings laced...
Category

1960s Ben Shahn Portrait Prints

Materials

Lithograph

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Lucille Fine, Sunday Afternoon, mid-century life in the neighborhood
By Lucille Fink
Located in New York, NY
Lucille Fink creates slightly bizarre, densely drawn spaces. Signed, titled, and numbered '19,' in pencil. Annotated on the reverse, "June, 1932, week of 6-10-32, last wk of school."...
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Previously Available Items
Birds Over The City, Modern Poster by Ben Shahn
By Ben Shahn
Located in Long Island City, NY
Ben Shahn, Lithuanian/American (1898 - 1969) - Birds Over The City, Year: 1968, Medium: Poster, Size: 21.5 x 21 in. (54.61 x 53.34 cm), Printer: Atelier Mourlot, Publisher: Mo...
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1960s Modern Ben Shahn Portrait Prints

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Offset

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. I Have A Dream, Black Portrait Head Civil Rights Activist
By Ben Shahn
Located in Union City, NJ
BEN SHAHN - Martin Luther King, Jr. - I Have A Dream is a limited run, plate signed, commemorative lithograph recreated after the wood engraving by Stefan Martin(1936 - 1994), an American wood engraver and illustrator. Printed using traditional lithography methods in 1981 on fine quality, archival Somerset printmaking paper, 100% acid free. Features a striking black and white portrait head portraying the fine wood engraved image of civil rights leader - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. along with text from his famed inspirational, I’ve been to the mountaintop’ speech. Printed signatures of Ben Shahn in dark reddish brown ink and Martin Luther King Jr. in gray ink. (see Photos) Artists copyright text printed...
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1980s Contemporary Ben Shahn Portrait Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Martin Luther King Jr. I Have A Dream, Lithograph, Black Portrait, Civil Rights
By Ben Shahn
Located in Union City, NJ
BEN SHAHN - Martin Luther King, Jr. - I Have A Dream is a limited run, plate signed commemorative lithograph recreated after the wood engraving by Stefan Martin...
Category

1980s Contemporary Ben Shahn Portrait Prints

Materials

Lithograph

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. I Have A Dream, Black and White Portrait, Civil Rights
By Ben Shahn
Located in Union City, NJ
BEN SHAHN- Martin Luther King, Jr. - I Have A Dream is a limited run, plate signed commemorative lithograph recreated after the wood engraving by Stefan Martin...
Category

1980s Contemporary Ben Shahn Portrait Prints

Materials

Lithograph

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. I Have A Dream, Black and White Portrait, Civil Rights
By Ben Shahn
Located in Union City, NJ
BEN SHAHN- Martin Luther King, Jr. - I Have A Dream is a limited run, plate signed commemorative lithograph recreated after the wood engraving by Stefan Martin...
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1980s Contemporary Ben Shahn Portrait Prints

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Lithograph

Martin Luther King Jr.- I Have A Dream, Stefan Martin BW Portrait, Civil Rights
By Ben Shahn
Located in Union City, NJ
BEN SHAHN- Martin Luther King, Jr. - I Have A Dream is a limited run, plate signed commemorative lithograph recreated after the wood engraving by Stefan Martin...
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1980s Contemporary Ben Shahn Portrait Prints

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Beside the dead - For the Sake of A Single Verse by Rainer Maria Rilke
By Ben Shahn
Located in Kansas City, MO
Ben Shahn From Portfolio "For the Sake of A Single Verse by Rainer Maria Rilke" Year: 1968 Lithograph on Richard de Bas hand-made paper ...
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1960s Modern Ben Shahn Portrait Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Beside the dying - For the Sake of A Single Verse by Rilke
By Ben Shahn
Located in Kansas City, MO
Ben Shahn From Portfolio "For the Sake of A Single Verse by Rainer Maria Rilke" Year: 1968 Lithograph on Richard de Bas hand-made paper ...
Category

1960s Modern Ben Shahn Portrait Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Memories of many nights of love - For the Sake of A Single Verse by Rilke
By Ben Shahn
Located in Kansas City, MO
Ben Shahn From Portfolio "For the Sake of A Single Verse by Rainer Maria Rilke" Year: 1968 Lithograph on Richard de Bas hand-made paper Edition: 750 Size: 22.5 x 17.75 inches Signed ...
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1960s Modern Ben Shahn Portrait Prints

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Lithograph

To parents one had to hurt - For the Sake of A Single Verse Rainer Maria Rilke
By Ben Shahn
Located in Kansas City, MO
Ben Shahn From Portfolio "For the Sake of A Single Verse by Rainer Maria Rilke" Year: 1968 Lithograph on Richard de Bas hand-made paper Edition: 750 Size: 22.5 x 17.75 inches Signed ...
Category

1960s Modern Ben Shahn Portrait Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Partings long seen coming - For the Sake of A Single Verse Rainer Maria Rilke
By Ben Shahn
Located in Kansas City, MO
Ben Shahn From Portfolio "For the Sake of A Single Verse by Rainer Maria Rilke" Year: 1968 Lithograph on Richard de Bas hand-made paper ...
Category

1960s Modern Ben Shahn Portrait Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Martin Luther King, I Have A Dream - Stefan Martin Black & White Portrait
By Ben Shahn
Located in Union City, NJ
BEN SHAHN- Martin Luther King, I Have A Dream is a limited run, plate signed commemorative lithograph recreated after the wood engraving by Stefan Martin...
Category

1980s Contemporary Ben Shahn Portrait Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Ben Shahn portrait prints for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Ben Shahn portrait prints available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Ben Shahn in lithograph, screen print, woodcut print and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large Ben Shahn portrait prints, so small editions measuring 12 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Shelly Fink, and Theo Wujcik. Ben Shahn portrait prints prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $275 and tops out at $4,500, while the average work can sell for $450.
Questions About Ben Shahn Portrait Prints
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 7, 2024
    The style of art of Ben Shahn is social realism. Artists working in this movement sought to highlight social issues by depicting scenes that showed the struggles of modern-day life. For example, Shahn produced four paintings and more than 100 drawings inspired by a 1947 mining accident that killed 111 people in Centralia, Illinois. Arguably the most famous of these works is Miner's Wives, which shows the widows of the miners in mourning. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of Ben Shahn art.

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