John Brown's Raid


John Brown, from the series Abolitionist John Brown led a group of twenty men and seized the U.S. Arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia), on October 16, 1859.

Although Brown was captured and hanged, he became a martyr to some slavery opponents. His zealous rebellion and commitment to equality for enslaved Americans inspired numerous artists, including twentieth-century social realist William Gropper.

As shown here, Gropper depicted John Brown in a series called "American Folk Heroes." This series included many folk icons—some historical, some mythical—such as Johnny Appleseed and Paul Bunyan.

Pictured: William Gropper, 1897–1977, John Brown, from the series "American Folk Heroes", undated, lithograph, 17 1/2 x 22 1/2 in., Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of David Schiffer.