Jules, Mervin M. (American, 1912-1994), The Lynching, oil on board, 14.5 x 16 inches, apparently unsigned, in a gilded frame with scrolling corners measuring 19 x 20.5 inches. Provenance: from the estate of Leon and Jane Arkus. Leon was the Director of the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, from 1969 to 1980. The history of paintings depicting lynching is a dark and disturbing subject. Lynching, the extrajudicial act of executing individuals, often by hanging, as a form of vigilante justice, was prevalent in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While photographs and postcards were commonly used to document and spread images of lynchings, paintings also emerged as a means of representing the brutal acts and raising awareness about racial violence. These paintings often served as powerful social commentaries on the racial injustice and systemic violence faced by African Americans. This painting is an early example of this controversial and dark subject, likely dating from the 1930s or early 1940s. It forcefully illustrates the terror inflicted on African Americans by racial segregation and intolerance, personified in this case by hooded KKK members. Mervin Jules was an American artist known for his powerful and socially conscious paintings and prints. Jules used his art as a means to address themes of racial injustice, identity, and the African American experience. Jules often depicted scenes from African American history and culture, incorporating elements of folk art and symbolism into his work. He explored various mediums, including painting, printmaking, and collage. His style ranged from vibrant and expressive to more somber and introspective, depending on the subject matter. Jules used powerful imagery and symbolism to confront viewers with the disturbing realities of lynching and its impact on African American communities. Mervin Jules saw his paintings and prints as social commentary, and was genuinely excited by “people and what they do.” A 1945 critic described him as an “artist with genuine social conscience . . . an effective spokesman for liberal ideas.”

Recently cleaned, but still with extensive crazing and alligatoring to the surface. Merchandise will be packed and transported by the purchaser at their own risk and expense. A list of recommended shippers is on our website: https://www.conceptgallery.com/auctions/shipping/ .