Horace Pippin

Horace Pippin (1888-1946) was an African-American folk artist known for his vivid, colorful portraits and landscapes. Pippin was born into poverty and faced many hardships before becoming an artist , including a war injury that left his right arm paralyzed.

Horace Pippin Biography

• Born February 22, 1888 in West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA
• From an early age, he was interested in drawing, but due to poverty he was unable to receive formal art education.
• He served in World War I and sustained serious injuries to his right arm, which left him with permanent disabilities.
• He began painting in the late 1920s.
• In 1937, his work was noticed at a local exhibition and subsequently exhibited at museums in New York.
• Died July 6, 1946, West Chester, Pennsylvania (age 58)

Representative works

• John Brown Going to His Hanging (1942)
• Victory Train (1943)
• Cabin in the Cotton (1944)
• "Holy Mountain" series

Pippin's style and achievements

Pippin's works are characterized by strong colors and simple compositions. He created many narrative-rich works , drawing on his own experiences and memories , as well as themes from the Bible and history.

His signature work, The Hanging of John Brown, depicts the execution of abolitionist John Brown, a powerful representation of a key event in black American history, while Victory Train celebrates America's victory during World War II and offers hope for a more hopeful future.

Pippin is a self-taught painter who overcame difficult circumstances to create his own unique artistic world. His works not only convey African-American history and culture, but also have universal messages that appeal to human dignity and hope.