Glad You Dead You Rascal You

Herbert Singleton, Glad You Dead You Rascal You, ca. 1990, painted cypress, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.87
Herbert Singleton, Glad You Dead You Rascal You, ca. 1990, painted cypress, 22 1⁄4 x 69 3⁄4 x 1 1⁄2 in. (56.5 x 177.2 x 3.8 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.87

Artwork Details

Title
Glad You Dead You Rascal You
Artist
Date
ca. 1990
Location
Dimensions
22 1⁄4 x 69 3⁄4 x 1 1⁄2 in. (56.5 x 177.2 x 3.8 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment
Mediums
Mediums Description
painted cypress
Classifications
Subjects
  • Figure group
  • African American
  • Ceremony — funeral
Object Number
1997.124.87
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1997.124.87

Artwork Description

This carving by Herbert Singleton shows a New Orleans jazz funeral, with mourners walking slowly behind the procession and musicians dancing ahead (Lynda Hartigan, African American Art: Recent Acquisitions, 1999/2000). Many of Singleton’s paintings depict African American life in New Orleans, emphasizing the city’s problems with drugs, shootings, and prostitution. The title of this piece is a line adapted from the 1929 song written by jazz musician Sam Theard and made famous by Louis Armstrong.

Works by this artist (1036 items)

View all artworks
William H. Johnson, Breakdown with Flat Tire, ca. 1940-1941, oil on plywood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.587
Breakdown with Flat Tire
Artist
Dateca. 1940-1941
oil on plywood
On view
William H. Johnson, Young Pastry Cook, ca. 1928-1930, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.693
Young Pastry Cook
Artist
Dateca. 1928-1930
oil on canvas
On view
William H. Johnson, Chain Gang, ca. 1939, oil on plywood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.675
Chain Gang
Artist
Dateca. 1939
oil on plywood
On view
William H. Johnson, Self-Portrait with Pipe, ca. 1937, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.913
Self-Portrait with Pipe
Artist
Dateca. 1937
oil on canvas
On view

Audio

Stop 137: Glad You Dead You Rascal You

Glad You Dead You Rascal You
about 1990, painted cypress

HERBERT SINGLETON
Born: New Orleans, Louisiana 1945– Died: New Orleans, Louisiana 2007

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