Ben Shahn

American, 1898-1969

Born in Kaunas, then part of the Russian Empire, Ben Shahn emigrated with his family to New York at the age of six. He began his career as a commercial lithographer, a craft that shaped his lifelong emphasis on line, clarity, and structure. Shahn developed a multidisciplinary practice that spanned painting, photography, printmaking, illustration, and murals, all unified by a commitment to social commentary and visual storytelling.

A key figure in American Social Realism, Shahn worked during the 1930s with various New Deal programs, including the Resettlement Administration and Farm Security Administration. His works from this period, documenting the struggles of working-class and disenfranchised Americans, resonate with a blend of empathy and political critique. Among his most recognized pieces is The Passion of Sacco and Vanzetti, a powerful indictment of injustice that cemented his reputation as an artist of conscience. In later years, Shahn’s work evolved to include more allegorical and symbolic elements, often drawing from biblical narratives, Jewish identity, and poetic metaphor. 

His legacy has been reaffirmed in recent exhibitions, including Ben Shahn: On Nonconformity, which explored his dedication to civil liberties, dissent, and the individual voice in American culture. Shahn’s works continue to resonate with collectors for their clarity of purpose, power, and enduring relevance in conversations around justice and representation.