ticketsMember | Make a donation

People in a Boat

1938
Not on view
Blackburn's exceptional talent as a printmaker became evident when he was just a teenager, taking classes at the Harlem Community Art Center and at Charles Alston's Harlem studio known as "306." People in a Boat exemplifies his work at the time, showing his mastery of light and shadow, and his ability to imbue figures and compositions with heroic properties. The subject and inspiration for this work are complex. In one sense, it reflects the Depression-era's concern with the lives of working people and their struggles for daily survival. Blackburn has said that the picture refers to the mass exodus of Blacks from the South as they sought to escape prejudice and persecution. Visually, however, the image recalls Raphael's design for a tapestry depicting the biblical story of the Miraculous Draught of Fishes. In that parable Christ proves his divine powers to a group of hungry, wary fishermen by miraculously increasing their catch of fish.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: People in a Boat
  • Artist: Robert Blackburn (American, Summit, New Jersey 1920–2003 New York)
  • Date: 1938
  • Medium: Lithograph
  • Dimensions: Image: 11 1/8 × 15 3/4 in. (28.3 × 40 cm)
    15 1/4 × 19 3/4 in. (38.7 × 50.2 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: Gift of Reba and Dave Williams, 1999
  • Object Number: 1999.529.9
  • Curatorial Department: Modern and Contemporary Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
The Magpie (Vol. XXIII, no. 2, June 1939), Robert Blackburn American, Journal
The Magpie (Vol. XXIII, no. 2, June 1939)
Robert Blackburn
DeWitt Clinton High School
1939
The Magpie, “Metropolitan Issue” (Vol. XXIII, no. 1, January 1939), Robert Blackburn American, Journal
The Magpie, “Metropolitan Issue” (Vol. XXIII, no. 1, January 1939)
Robert Blackburn
DeWitt Clinton High School
1939
The Magpie, “Outdoor Issue” (Vol. XX, no. 2, Spring 1936), Robert Blackburn American, Journal
The Magpie, “Outdoor Issue” (Vol. XX, no. 2, Spring 1936)
Robert Blackburn
1936
The Magpie, “American Issue” (Vol. XXI, no. 2, June 1937), Robert Blackburn American, Journal
The Magpie, “American Issue” (Vol. XXI, no. 2, June 1937)
Robert Blackburn
DeWitt Clinton High School
1937
The Magpie, “Anniversary Issue” (Vol. XXII, no. 1, January 1938), Robert Blackburn American, Journal
The Magpie, “Anniversary Issue” (Vol. XXII, no. 1, January 1938)
Robert Blackburn
DeWitt Clinton High School
1938

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.