Plate from Letter from Birmingham City Jail

2007

Faith Ringgold, author Martin Luther King Jr., printer Curlee Raven Holten

Associated Names
Faith Ringgold

Artist, American, 1930 - 2024

Curlee Raven Holton

Printer, American, born 1951

This is a painting of a group of people participating in a protest or demonstration. The image depicts several figures standing close together, with some holding signs that read "ONE VOTE" and "REGISTER TO VOTE." The scene uses stark contrasts with bold outlines and flat areas of color, primarily in black, white, and shades of blue, yellow, and red. The expressions on the faces are serious, and there is a sense of tension depicted through the body language and the presence of uniformed figures among the group. The composition is tightly framed, emphasizing the crowded setting.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    screenprint from an illustrated book with eight screenprints

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Ruth Fine in honor of Michele Wallace

  • Dimensions

    overall (closed): 39.8 × 33.2 × 4.9 cm (15 11/16 × 13 1/16 × 1 15/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2021.80.27.5

Associated Artworks

See all 8 artworks

Frontispiece from Letter from Birmingham City Jail

Faith Ringgold, Martin Luther King Jr., Limited Editions Club, Curlee Raven Holton

2007

This is a photograph of a book cover. The cover is a red fabric with a rectangular black label in the center, bordered by a gold line, where the title "Letter from Birmingham City Jail" is printed in gold lettering.

Letter from Birmingham City Jail

Faith Ringgold, Martin Luther King Jr., Limited Editions Club, Curlee Raven Holton

2007

This is a painting featuring a scene with a church and hooded figures. The artwork shows four figures in white with extended arms, floating in a blue sky. Below them is a depiction of a church with a domed roof, next to four hooded figures in white with blank expressions against a dark background. The painting includes a white cross with the words "16th Street Baptist Church" in the foreground. The style is reminiscent of Faith Ringgold, utilizing bold imagery for social commentary.

Plate from Letter from Birmingham City Jail

Faith Ringgold, Martin Luther King Jr., Limited Editions Club, Curlee Raven Holton

2007


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

The artist; to Ruth Fine, Philadelphia; gift to NGA, 2021

Associated Names

Inscriptions

"Faith Ringgold" colophon, graphite.


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