Artwork
Back from Vietnam
Back from Vietnam is a print by Ken Sprague. It dates from 1967 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Back from Vietnam is a 1967 print by Ken Sprague depicting a poignant scene of grief and mourning, capturing the moment a family receives the coffin of a fallen American soldier at an airport.
Subject & Meaning
The print shows the parents of a deceased soldier, with the father personally pulling the bier after removing the American flag from the casket, conveying intense personal loss and the human cost of war.
Technique & Style
Sprague employs a somber color palette (brown coffin, black suit, gray background) and incorporates a faint American flag, using contrast to emphasize the solemnity and emotional weight of the scene.
History & Provenance
Created in 1967, during the Vietnam War, the work reflects the era's societal impact. Provenance details are not specified in available information.
Context
The piece is set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, serving as a commentary on the personal tragedies inflicted by the conflict on American families.
Artist & collection
Artist
Kenneth Ray Sprague is an American bodybuilder, businessman, author and school teacher. He is best known as the owner of the original Gold's Gym in Venice, Los Angeles, which he purchased and managed between the years 1972 and 1979.
