Horace PippinVictorian Parlor II

Horace Pippin1888-1946

Self-taught Folk Artist

Served in World War One

Painted despite of serious injury to his arm

Best known for his work depicting African American life and the horrors of war

Used bright colors, flat shapes and straight lines

Completed his first painting at age 43

Horace Pippin loved to draw as a child. He would even illustrate his spelling words! His family could not afford to buy him art supplies. At 10, he entered a drawing contest in a magazine and won a box of crayons. He left school at 14, to support his mother who was sick.

In 1917, the joined the army and was sent to France to fight in WW1. His right arm, his drawing arm, was severely injured. He turned to art to help rehabilitate his arm. He would use his “good” left hand to guide his crippled right hand, which held the paintbrush, across the canvas.

He began painting at age 40 and it took him 3 years to complete his first painting.

Many art critics discovered Pippin’s work. He became known as the greatest Black painter of his time.

What do you see in this painting?

Where do you see repeating patterns?

Is this painting symmetrical?

How does this even design make you feel?

What do the think the people who live here are like?

What title would you give this painting?