Ben Shahn
1898–1969 · Lithuania / United States
A painter’s eye for the gestures of the street.
Explore 2 works ↓
Ben Shahn · 1935-09
Ben Shahn · New York Public Library, Farm Security Administration / Office of War Information.
Public domain — fonds FSA/OWI · Reuse conditions · Artwork record
The story
A painter, lithographer and photographer, Ben Shahn developed an attention to people and ordinary New York scenes in the 1930s. He took part in Resettlement Administration and FSA assignments. Photography also fed his other practices without simply providing a store of motifs: his framing and juxtapositions offer an independent social reading of everyday life.
Understanding the work
Observe hands, glances and inscriptions. Connections between bodies, lettering and surfaces show how a documentary scene can have a strong graphic structure.
Key works and series
New York scenes; photographs of the American South; series for the RA/FSA.
Sources & further exploration
A journey through images.
2 worksClick an image to enlarge it. Captions, collections and reuse conditions appear below each work. Captions describe the photographs; the source records retain catalogue titles and provide context.
Ben Shahn · 1935-09
Ben Shahn · New York Public Library, Farm Security Administration / Office of War Information.
Public domain — fonds FSA/OWI · Reuse conditions · Artwork record
Ben Shahn · 1935-10
Ben Shahn · New York Public Library, Farm Security Administration / Office of War Information.
Public domain — fonds FSA/OWI · Reuse conditions · Artwork record
Works in collections.
24 recordsPhotographs to explore on museum and library websites, with titles, dates and processes. Each link opens the collection record and its image where one is available.
- Library of Congress · 1935-10
Lecteur de journal, Jackson Square, La Nouvelle-Orléans
Photograph — FSA/OWI collection
- Library of Congress · 1935-10
Chargement du charbon, Jenkins, Kentucky
Photograph — FSA/OWI collection
- Library of Congress · 1935-10
Couple sur un banc, Jackson Square, La Nouvelle-Orléans
Photograph — FSA/OWI collection
- Library of Congress · 1935-10
Musiciens de rue, Maynardville, Tennessee
Photograph — FSA/OWI collection
- Library of Congress · 1935-10
File d’attente de l’aide fédérale, La Nouvelle-Orléans
Photograph — FSA/OWI collection
- Library of Congress · 1935-10
Coton sur le porche d’une maison de métayer, Arkansas
Photograph — FSA/OWI collection
- Library of Congress · 1935-10
Métayer un dimanche, Little Rock, Arkansas
Photograph — FSA/OWI collection
- Library of Congress · 1935-10
Couple avec un enfant, Smithland, Kentucky
Photograph — FSA/OWI collection
- Library of Congress · 1935-10
Maison d’une famille sans titre de propriété, Arkansas
Photograph — FSA/OWI collection
- Library of Congress · 1935-10
Trappeurs au chômage, paroisse de Plaquemines, Louisiane
Photograph — FSA/OWI collection
- New York Public Library · 1935-09
Religious gathering in Nashville, Tennessee
Photograph — FSA/OWI collection
