Untitled

About this work

You see a thin man in a rumpled suit holding a violin, his face half-hidden by shadow. Shahn painted this during a time when many artists were trying to show real life, not just pretty scenes. The man’s hands look rough, like he’s worked hard all his life. The colors are flat and bold, almost like a poster. If you like how Shahn mixes everyday people with strong shapes, look up tempera.