GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This lithograph is an excellent example of John Biggers’ early work, which focused on themes of African American life. Biggers moved to Houston in 1949 to establish the art department at Texas State University for Negroes (now Texas Southern University). In 1957 he traveled to Africa on a UNESCO fellowship, after which he incorporated African themes and images into his work. Biggers is best known for his murals, and early African American, social realist artworks. This etching won the Neiman Marcus Company Prize at the Dallas Museum of Fine Art in 1952.
Drawn from
- William Rudolph, DMA Label text, 2005.
- Handbook of Texas Online, Jason Sweeney, "Biggers, John Thomas," accessed November 16, 2018.
NOTES
Created 1950
July 2005
This lithograph is an excellent example of John Biggers’ work prior to his 1957 visit to Africa, which concentrated on African American rather than African themes. Biggers’ lifelong concern with African American identity is attributed to his art professor Viktor Lowenfeld, who encouraged his students to reveal their artistic and cultural heritage in their works. Today Biggers is acclaimed for his complex, symbolic African American– and African-themed works. "Sleeping Boy" won a 1952 art competition at the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts.
Excerpt from
William Keyse Rudolph, DMA label copy, 2005.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Biggers, John Thomas (1924-2001)
Cultures
Geography
Place of origin: Houston (Texas/United States): TGN: 7013727
Process/materials
Conte crayon
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
From 1952: Dallas Museum of Art, Neiman-Marcus Company Prize for Drawing, Fifth Southwestern Exhibition of Prints and Drawings [1]
[1] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC~Read a biography of Biggers.
- Handbook of Texas Online~Learn more about the life and works of John Thomas Biggers.
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
- In 1962, following his trip to Africa, Biggers published Ananse, Web of Life in Africa. This illustrated travelogue was among the first visual accounts of African culture for African Americans.
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 1952.1
Category
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General Description
This lithograph is an excellent example of John Biggers’ early work, which focused on themes of African American life. Biggers moved to Houston in 1949 to establish the art department at Texas State University for Negroes (now Texas Southern University). In 1957 he traveled to Africa on a UNESCO fellowship, after which he incorporated African themes and images into his work. Biggers is best known for his murals, and early African American, social realist artworks. This etching won the Neiman Marcus Company Prize at the Dallas Museum of Fine Art in 1952.
Drawn from
- William Rudolph, DMA Label text, 2005.
- Handbook of Texas Online, Jason Sweeney, "Biggers, John Thomas," accessed November 16, 2018.
Fun Facts
- In 1962, following his trip to Africa, Biggers published Ananse, Web of Life in Africa. This illustrated travelogue was among the first visual accounts of African culture for African Americans.
Archival Resources
Web Resources
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC~Read a biography of Biggers.
- Handbook of Texas Online~Learn more about the life and works of John Thomas Biggers.
Notes
Created 1950
July 2005
This lithograph is an excellent example of John Biggers’ work prior to his 1957 visit to Africa, which concentrated on African American rather than African themes. Biggers’ lifelong concern with African American identity is attributed to his art professor Viktor Lowenfeld, who encouraged his students to reveal their artistic and cultural heritage in their works. Today Biggers is acclaimed for his complex, symbolic African American– and African-themed works. "Sleeping Boy" won a 1952 art competition at the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts.
Excerpt from
William Keyse Rudolph, DMA label copy, 2005.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Biggers, John Thomas (1924-2001)
Cultures
Geography
Place of origin: Houston (Texas/United States): TGN: 7013727
Process/materials
Conte crayon
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
From 1952: Dallas Museum of Art, Neiman-Marcus Company Prize for Drawing, Fifth Southwestern Exhibition of Prints and Drawings [1]
[1] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1952.1
source file
object_notes_2_a-0138.xml.nores