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Legend of John Brown #12: John Brown's victory at Black Jack drove those pro-slavery to new fury, and those who were anti-slavery to new efforts.
Legend of John Brown #12: John Brown's victory at Black Jack drove those pro-slavery to new fury, and those who were anti-slavery to new efforts.
On View
On view
Object number2008.15.12

Legend of John Brown #12: John Brown's victory at Black Jack drove those pro-slavery to new fury, and those who were anti-slavery to new efforts.

Artist (American, 1917-2000)
Date1977
Mediumcolor screenprint
Dimensionsimage: 20 × 14 in. (50.8 × 35.6 cm)
sheet: 25 3/4 × 20 in. (65.4 × 50.8 cm)
mat: 30 × 24 in. (76.2 × 61 cm)
Credit LineGift of an anonymous donor
Exhibition History"Embracing Diverse Voices: African-American Art in the Collection of the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts," KIA Galleries 3&4 (Oct. 3 - Nov. 29, 2009). "Embracing Diverse Voices: 80 Years of African-American Art," KIA Traveling Exhibition, Bakersfield Museum of Art (Dec. 13, 2012 – Mar. 10, 2013). "Embracing Diverse Voices: 90 Years of African-American Art," KIA Traveling Exhibition, Tyler Museum of Art, Tyler, TX (January 17 - March 20, 2016). "Embracing Diverse Voices: A Century of African-American Art," KIA Traveling Exhibition, North Carolina Central University Art Museum (October 7 - December 12, 2016). "Resilience: African American Artists as Agents of Change," at the KIA (September 14, 2019 - February 16, 2020)Label TextIn The Legend of John Brown, Jacob Lawrence presents the abolitionist as a deeply complex historical figure. Considered a hero to some and a radical to others, Brown emerges as a tragic, and heroic figure in eight of the works shown here from the twenty-two-print series. Often depicted alone, or with his back to the viewer, Brown appears isolated by his unwavering belief that he was chosen by God to hasten the end of slavery. Lawrence’s brilliantly hued images composed of flat, angular forms heighten the narrative’s drama, while also demonstrating Brown’s courage and resolve. Created during the Civil Rights era, the series invites viewers to consider how art can be used to delve into the past, but also confront injustice. Lawrence depicts Brown as an ally whose legacy continues to inspire conversations about freedom and social change. [Label Text: For the People: America at 250 Exhibition, June 27 - October 4, 2026]