Ben Shahn, studies for Riker’s Island murals. Oil and ink wash, 1934-1935.  

A selection of oil and ink studies by Ben Shahn for murals intended to be installed at the new ‘model prison’ of Riker’s Island in 1935.  Although typical of Shahn’s work documenting the Great Depression, his murals were deemed too political for Riker’s and never installed. From top left, clockwise, they show:

1) Man Drawing Blood
2) Three Men
3) Floroscopy
4) Woman and Girl

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