Peace with Honor

Elijah Pierce, Peace with Honor, 1973, painted wood, glitter, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of David L. Davies, 1992.37.4
Elijah Pierce, Peace with Honor, 1973, painted wood, glitter, 11 3⁄8 x 18 x 1 1⁄4 in. (28.9 x 45.7 x 3.2 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of David L. Davies, 1992.37.4

Artwork Details

Title
Peace with Honor
Artist
Date
1973
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
11 3⁄8 x 18 x 1 1⁄4 in. (28.9 x 45.7 x 3.2 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of David L. Davies
Mediums
Mediums Description
painted wood, glitter
Classifications
Subjects
  • Object — weapon — dagger
  • Religion — Satan
  • Object — weapon — axe
  • Allegory — quality — deceit
  • Allegory — quality — harmony
  • Figure group — male
Object Number
1992.37.4
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1992.37.4

Artwork Description

This carving shows two world leaders shaking hands, as if negotiating peace, but the tools hidden behind their backs and the two devils suggest that they do not mean what they say. This image of deception was probably inspired by Richard Nixon’s 1968 campaign promise to achieve “peace with honor” in Vietnam. The war would not end for several years, however, and during his presidency Nixon approved large-scale bombing of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Works by this artist (5 items)

View all artworks
Elijah Pierce, Christ Carrying the Cross, ca. 1972, carved, painted and varnished wood with glitter mounted on painted corrugated cardboard with paper collage, painted stones and glitter, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.260
Christ Carrying the Cross
Artist
Dateca. 1972
carved, painted and varnished wood with glitter mounted on painted corrugated cardboard with paper collage, painted stones and glitter
On view
Elijah Pierce, Your Life Is a Book and Every Day Is a Page, 1973, carved and painted wood with glitter, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.261
Your Life Is a Book and Every Day Is a Page
Artist
Date1973
carved and painted wood with glitter
Not on view
Elijah Pierce, Three Wise Men, ca. 1950, oil, paper and glitter on carved plywood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Jeffrey and Jeany Wolf, 1985.94
Three Wise Men
Artist
Dateca. 1950
oil, paper and glitter on carved plywood
Not on view
Elijah Pierce, Peace with Honor, 1973, painted wood, glitter, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of David L. Davies, 1992.37.4
Peace with Honor
Artist
Date1973
painted wood, glitter
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

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Darryl Abraham, Honeymoon Motel, 1973, mixed media: wood, plaster and waterbase paint on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1975.22
Honeymoon Motel
Artist
Date1973
mixed media: wood, plaster and waterbase paint on paper
Not on view
Derek Webster, Untitled (Large Figure), 1984, painted wood with plastic, putty, and metal, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.93
Untitled (Large Figure)
Artist
Date1984
painted wood with plastic, putty, and metal
On view
Unidentified (American), Whirligig with Man Sawing Wood, 20th century, carved and painted wood with metal, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.374
Whirligig with Man Sawing Wood
Artist
Unidentified (American)
Date20th century
carved and painted wood with metal
Not on view
Robert Morris, Untitled (Installation Model for Akron Commission), 1978, synthetic polymer on wood, pencil, and paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, Art-in-Architecture Program, 1979.159.46
Untitled (Installation Model for Akron Commission)
Artist
Date1978
synthetic polymer on wood, pencil, and paperboard
Not on view