Anabasis
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View on museum website →Medium
7-color lithograph
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1963.11.220
Art Historical Context
**Anabasis** (1957) is a striking 7-color lithograph Benton Murdoch Spruance, innovative American printmaker renowned for pushing the of color lithography in the mid-20th. Created during the post-World War II era, when abstract expressionism and modernist experimentation dominated American art, Spruance's work often blended dynamic forms with subtle social undertones. The title *Anabasis* evokes Xenophon's ancient Greek epic perilous retreat and survival, suggesting themes of journey, struggle, or resilience—hallmarks of Spruance's introspective style. This print exemplifies Spruance's techni...
About the Artist
Benton Murdoch Spruance
Benton Murdoch Spruance (1904–1967) was a Philadelphia native whose artistic journey began amid the city's architectural landscape. Born on June 25, 1904, he initially worked as a clerk in an architect's office while studying architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, where he taught himself graphic sketching. A scholarship brought him to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), foll...