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Breadwinner (War)

A work made of lithographic crayon, with scraping and smudging, on cream wove paper.

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  • A work made of lithographic crayon, with scraping and smudging, on cream wove paper.

Date:

1942

Artist:

John Wilson
American, born 1922

About this artwork

The drawing Breadwinner depicts an African American worker relaxing on a park bench during his break. The man wears a hat typical of a factory laborer. In spite of his ordinary appearance, the man’s posture is strong and relaxed, and he wears a sport coat over his work clothes—a symbol of pride for men during the Depression. On his lap is a newspaper with the discernable headline “WAR.” John Wilson made this drawing in 1942, probably soon after the United States declared war on the Axis powers.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Prints and Drawings

Artist

John Wilson

Title

Breadwinner (War)

Place

United States (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1942

Medium

Lithographic crayon, with scraping and smudging, on cream wove paper

Dimensions

64 × 48.3 cm (25 1/4 × 19 1/16 in.)

Credit Line

Purchased with funds provided by Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Hartman

Reference Number

2004.512

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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