But What Would Adam Say?

1942

Clifford Kennedy Berryman

Associated Names
Clifford Kennedy Berryman

Artist, American, 1869 - 1949

This is a drawing of a political cartoon related to taxation. The drawing features a scene reminiscent of the biblical Garden of Eden, with a figure among lush foliage interacting with a congress snake wrapped around a tree offering an apple labeled "Sales Tax." In the background, there is a structure, potentially representing government, with an object labeled "Income Tax" on the ground. The figure in the scene says, "But what would Adam say?" in a speech bubble. The artist's signature is visible at the bottom of the image. The illustration uses detailed linework to offer a satirical commentary on taxation.
This object’s media is not available for download. Contact us about image usage.
Not on view See artworks now on view

Artwork overview

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

the artist, Washington, DC; Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 1945; acquired 2015 by the National Gallery of Art

Associated Names

Bibliography

1983

  • Simmons, Linda Crocker and with the assistance of Adrianne J. Humphrey, et al. American Drawings, Watercolors, Pastels, and Collages in the Collection of the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Washington, DC: Corcoran Gallery of Art, 1983: p. 139, no. 928.

Inscriptions

lower right in pen and black ink: BERRYMAN; upper left edge in graphite by unknown hand: 3 cols Sun; upper right verso in black pencil by unknown hand: 42.5; center verso in graphite by unknown hand: 1654 [circled]

Markings

stamped upper right verso in red ink: 2nd RUN / SUNDAY

Wikidata ID

Q64540237

You may be interested in

Loading Results