The Legend of John Brown

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

“John Brown worked not simply for Black men—he worked with them; and he was a companion of their daily life, knew their faults and virtues, and felt, as few white Americans have felt, the bitter tragedy of their lot.” —W. E. B. Du Bois, John Brown, 1909 Radical abolitionist John Brown (1800–1859) fought and died for the emancipation of enslaved people. His life as an antislavery advocate and armed insurrectionist who was tried, convicted, and hanged for his rebellion has served as inspiration for numerous artists since his death. However, it would not be until 1941, when Jacob Lawrence created a narrative series of 22 paintings, that Brown’s life was visually documented in its entirety. Between 1974 and 1977, Lawrence recreated his series in print form. Linen box (artist portfolio). Red outer box (a); blue interior clam shell box (b).

Catalog date

1977

Recorded places

New Haven, Connecticut, United States, North and Central America; Charles Town, Virginia, United States, North and Central America

Recorded subjects

African American; Antislavery; Art; Resistance; Slavery; U.S. History, 1815-1861

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