The Soprano at the Mourning Easter Wake of 1968

Daniel Pressley, The Soprano at the Mourning Easter Wake of 1968, 1968, varnished walnut relief, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.78
Daniel Pressley, The Soprano at the Mourning Easter Wake of 1968, 1968, varnished walnut relief, 35 14181 in. (89.545.72.5 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.78

Artwork Details

Title
The Soprano at the Mourning Easter Wake of 1968
Date
1968
Dimensions
35 14181 in. (89.545.72.5 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment
Mediums Description
varnished walnut relief
Classifications
Subjects
  • History — United States — Civil Rights Movement
  • Ceremony — funeral
  • Figure female — waist length
  • Ceremony — holiday — Easter
  • Performing arts — music — voice
  • African American
Object Number
1997.124.78

Artwork Description

Daniel Pressley learned the art of wood carving when he was a boy, from his grandfather who was a former slave. In South Carolina during the first half of the twentieth century, African-American families lived under the pall of racism. Pressley moved to New York City in 1953, like many African Americans of the era, in search of a better life. He became deft at compressing profound moments of human emotion into tight, controlled carvings. This carving shows a singer at the wake for Martin Luther King Jr., just after he was assassinated in 1968. Her clasped hands and anguished expression evoke the widespread passion and grief over the death of a hero to black Americans.

Works by this artist (1036 items)

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
Dateca. 1928-1930
oil on canvas
On view
William H. Johnson, Portrait of a Man, ca. 1935-1938, oil on burlap, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.814
Portrait of a Man
Dateca. 1935-1938
oil on burlap
On view
William H. Johnson, Tehran Conference, ca. 1945, oil on plywood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.647
Tehran Conference
Dateca. 1945
oil on plywood
On view
William H. Johnson, Jim, 1930, oil on canvas, mounted on masonite, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.748
Jim
Date1930
oil on canvas, mounted on masonite
On view

More Artworks from the Collection

William H. Johnson, Seated Woman in Orange Print Dress, ca. 1939-1940, tempera on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.281
Seated Woman in Orange Print Dress
Dateca. 1939-1940
tempera on paperboard
Not on view
William H. Johnson, Bearded Man in Yellow Chair, ca. 1939-1940, tempera on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.276
Bearded Man in Yellow Chair
Dateca. 1939-1940
tempera on paperboard
Not on view
William H. Johnson, Woman in Green Sweater on Red Bench, ca. 1939-1940, tempera on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.284
Woman in Green Sweater on Red Bench
Dateca. 1939-1940
tempera on paperboard
Not on view