Art & Social Issues in American Culture
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Cold War

Heavy Heavy Hangs Over Thy Head

by Rockwell Kent

Political tensions were intense during the Cold War era, illustrated in Kent’s 1946 lithograph of a rifle about to fall onto a sleeping baby. 

Kent based his lithograph on a painting of the same name completed during World War II, providing further support for his commentary regarding the fragility of the post-war peace. 

This is a persuasive image. Why?

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Rockwell Kent, Heavy Heavy Hangs Over Thy Head

Rockwell Kent, Heavy Heavy Hangs Over Thy Head, 1946.  Lithograph, 9 x 12 in. 

Museum Purchase, Derby Fund, from the Philip J. and Suzanne Schiller Collection of American Social Commentary Art 1930-1970

Within Cold War...

Rockwell Kent

Anton Refregier

Ben Shahn

Ben Shahn

WWI The Rise of Fascism Spanish Civil War
WWII Cold War Vietnam War
Werner Drews
James Guy
Edward Hagedorn
Rockwell Kent
Joseph Leboit
John McClellan
Miriam McKinnie Hofmeier
Leo Meissner
Bernard Perlin
Anton Refreiger
Philip Reisman
David Robbins
Ben Shahn
Harry Sternberg
Stuyvesant Van Veen


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