Primary Accumulation 3
1933
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
lithograph
Dimensions
Image: 345 x 320 mm (irregular) Sheet: 570 x 768 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
2008.115.2026
Art Historical Context
Hugo Gellert's *Primary Accumulation 3*1933) is a striking lithograph that captures the turbulent spirit of the Great Depression era. As a Hungarian-born American artist and fervent advocate for social justice, Gellert was a figure in the graphic arts scene, using his bold prints to critique capitalism and champion workers' rights. This work, part of a series, likely draws from Marxist ideas of "primitive accumulation," the stark contrasts between wealth hoarding and widespread suffering—a timely commentary amid economic collapse and rising labor unrest. Rendered in the versatile medium of li...