Chain Gang
1940-1941
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
lithograph
Dimensions
image: 300 x 439 mm sheet: 385 x 516 mm
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
2008.115.4777
Art Historical Context
James Baare Turnbull created *Chain Gang* as a lithograph between 1940 and 1941, capturing a powerful scene of prisoners linked together in forced labor. The medium of lithography, known for its ability to produce rich tonal contrasts and fine details through a stone-based printing process, allowed Turnbull to convey the weight and tension of the subject with striking clarity. Printed on a sheet measuring roughly 15 by 20 inches, this work belongs to the National Gallery of Art’s collection as part of the generous Reba and Dave Williams gift. The title and timing place the print amid the soci...