About this artwork
Set in the pre-Civil War (antebellum) era in the United States, Freedom, a fable is a pop-up book that tells the story of a recently emancipated woman who, despite her freedom, continues to face oppression and discrimination. Written and designed by the artist Kara Walker with help from paper engineer David Eisen, the book features pop-ups of laser-cut paper silhouettes—a technique which Walker uses throughout her work to depict and challenge narratives about the antebellum American South. Published in 1997, the story points to injustices that have persisted into the twentieth century, particularly those inflicted upon Black women.
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Status
- Currently Off View
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Department
- Ryerson and Burnham Libraries Special Collections
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Artist
- Kara Walker
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Title
- Freedom, a fable: a curious interpretation of the wit of a Negress in troubled times, with illustrations
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Place
- United States (Artist's nationality:)
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Date
- 1997
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Medium
- Bound volume of offset lithographs and five laser-cut, pop-up silhouettes on wove paper
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Dimensions
- 24 × 21.2 × 1.9 cm (9 1/2 × 8 3/8 × 3/4 in.)
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Credit Line
- Ryerson and Burnham Libraries Operating Fund
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Reference Number
- 2023.3232
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.
