Bigger and Better Americans
1927
Medium
lithograph in black
Dimensions
image: 22.5 × 28 cm (8 7/8 × 11 in.) sheet: 29.2 × 39.7 cm (11 1/2 × 15 5/8 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Gift of Reba and Dave Williams
Accession Number
2008.115.941
Art Historical Context
Julius Bloch's *Bigger and Better Americans (1927) is a striking black lithograph that captures the spirit of 1920s America through sharp social commentary. Born in Germany and arriving in the U.S. as a teenager, Bloch became a prominent figure in American printmaking and social realism, often depicting the lives of immigrants, workers, and everyday people. This modest-sized print—measuring 22.5 × 28 cm—exemplifies his keen eye for human character and cultural transformation during the Jazz Age. Lithography, the medium here, allowed Bloch to achieve rich tonal contrasts and fine details direc...