The American People Series #18: The Flag is Bleeding
1967
Artist, American, 1930 - 2024
There is something subversive about seeing an American flag dripping with blood. Faith Ringgold knows that, and she doesn’t shy away. The artist intentionally positions her three subjects behind the ghastly screen. The white people and Black man link arms, but this is not a scene of peace or reconciliation. The white man, with legs spread and hands on hips, poses like a gunslinger. The Black man holds a bloody knife. He looks like he’s pledging allegiance to the flag, but blood seeps between his fingers at his heart. Made during the racial violence and political turbulence of the 1960s, this work seems to ask, Can we ever be united?
NGA, East Building, EU-407-D, E
Artwork overview
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Medium
oil on canvas
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Credit Line
-
Dimensions
overall: 182.88 × 243.84 cm (72 × 96 in.)
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Accession
2021.28.1
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Artwork history & notes
Provenance
The artist; purchased September 2021 through (ACA Galleries, New York) by NGA
Associated Names
Exhibition History
2010
American People, Black Light. Faith Ringgold's Paintings of the 1960s, Neuberger Museum, State University of New York at Purchase, 2010, pl. 31.
2021
Faith Ringgold, Glenstone, Potomac, 2021
Bibliography
1999
Farrington, Lisa. Art on Fire: The Politics of Race and Sex in the Paintings of Faith Ringgold. New Yorik, 1999: 1, 2, 7, 33, 38,40-41, 43, 47, 67, 92, 135, 171, repro.
2004
Holton, Curlee Raven with Faith Ringgold. Faith Ringgold: A View from the Studio. Boston, 2004: 10-11, no. 4, reprod.
2018
Monahan, Anne. Faith Ringgold: Die. New York, 2018: 17-19, no. 15, repro.
2019
Obrist, Hans Maria. Faith Ringgold. Exh. Cat., London: 2019: 26, repro.
2022
Fletcher, Kanitra. "Gifts & Acquisitions." Art for the Nation no. 65 (Spring 2022): 18-19, repro.
2023
Ramos, Carmen E. "Collecting for the Nation." _Art for the Nation_no. 67 (Fall 2023): 13, fig. 16.
Wikidata ID
Q111603604