Revolutionary
Artist
Wadsworth Jarrell
(American, born 1929)
Date1972
MediumColor screen print
Dimensions32 3/4 × 26 1/2 in. (83.2 × 67.3 cm)
ClassificationsContemporary art
Credit LineMuseum purchase
Object number2017.34
Collections
On View
Not on viewLabel TextWadsworth Jarrell American, b. 1929 Revolutionary, 1972 Color screen print This work by Wadsworth Jarrell is a stylized depiction of Angela Davis (b. 1944), a Black Panther, educator, and former member of the all-Black branch of the Communist Party. An academic, Davis champions against institutional injustices such as police brutality and prisons. In 1970, the activist was arrested in connection with a crime that was committed with a weapon that she purchased legally. However, Davis was not involved in the incident. After spending approximately eighteen months in jail, Davis was released and acquitted of all charges. International celebrities, including Aretha Franklin and John Lennon, helped publicize Davis’s case. Wadsworth depicted numerous political leaders such as Davis and Malcolm X and was a member of the African Commune of Black Relevant Artists (AFRI-COBRA). In 1968, this coalition of African American artists strategized how their work could contribute to the betterment of their community. The group presented empowering images of African Americans during a period of profound political strife. Phrases such as “Black is Beautiful” and “Resist” in the work emphasize self-pride and civil action. Museum purchase 2017.34
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