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Ben Shahn

American, 1898-1969
Ben Shahn (1898 – 1969) was a Lithuanian-born American artist. He is best known for his works of social realism, his left-wing political views, and his series of lectures published as The Shape of Content. Shahn began his path to becoming an artist in New York, where he was first trained as a lithographer. Shahn's early experiences with lithography and graphic design is apparent in his later prints and paintings which often include the combination of text and image. Shahn's primary medium was egg tempera, popular among social realists. Shahn mixed different genres of art. His body of art is distinctive for its lack of traditional landscapes, still lifes, and portraits. Shahn used both expressive and precise visual languages, which he coalesced through the consistency of his authoritative line. Shahn is also noted for his use of unique symbolism, which is often compared to the imagery in Paul Klee's drawings. His art is striking but also introspective. He often captured figures engrossed in their own worlds. Although he used many mediums, his pieces are consistently thoughtful and playful.
Average Sold Price
$922
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Materials
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Ben Shahn Original Lithograph From Portfolio - Levana & Our Ladies Of Sorrow
Ben Shahn Original Lithograph From Portfolio - Levana & Our Ladies Of Sorrow

Ben Shahn Original Lithograph From Portfolio - Levana & Our Ladies Of Sorrow

By Ben Shahn

Located in Surfside, FL

SCARCE EARLY WORK. BEN SHAHN Levana and our Lady's Sorrows. lithograph printed in sepia on Papier Ancien, 1931. 13 1/8x9 7/8 inches (sheets), full margins, loose as issued. One of o...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Ben Shahn

Materials

Lithograph

IMMIGRANT FAMILY
IMMIGRANT FAMILY

Ben ShahnIMMIGRANT FAMILY, 1941

$7,200

H 23 in W 28 in D 1 in

IMMIGRANT FAMILY

By Ben Shahn

Located in Portland, ME

Shahn, Ben. IMMIGRANT FAMILY. Serigraph, 1941. Prescott 2. Edition size unknown; Prescott knew of only 3. This copy unsigned. 11 1/2 x 18 inches (image), 19 1/4 x 25 1/4 (sheet), framed to 23 x 28 1/4 inches. This was only the second print made by Shahn, and the first serigraph, a medium in which he continued to use for his prints throughout his career. Provenance: Kennedy Galleries, with its label, George Krevsky Gallery...

Category

1940s Ben Shahn

Materials

Screen

original lithograph

Ben Shahnoriginal lithograph, 1955

$200

H 12.01 in W 8.67 in

original lithograph

By Ben Shahn

Located in Henderson, NV

Medium: original lithograph. This lithograph was printed in 1955 for the "Improvisations" portfolio, and published by the Artists Equity Association of New York in an edition of 2000...

Category

1950s Ben Shahn

Materials

Lithograph

Ben Shahn, Silkscreen with Old Testament Psalm 57 Signed/N + provenance letter
Ben Shahn, Silkscreen with Old Testament Psalm 57 Signed/N + provenance letter

Ben Shahn, Silkscreen with Old Testament Psalm 57 Signed/N + provenance letter

By Ben Shahn

Located in New York, NY

Ben Shahn Silkscreen inspired by Old Testament Psalm 57, 1967 Silkscreen on Japon paper Hand signed and numbered 255/300 by the artist on the front, with a copy of the provenance let...

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Ben Shahn

Materials

Pencil, Screen

original lithograph

Ben Shahnoriginal lithograph, 1958

$150

H 12.01 in W 8.23 in

original lithograph

By Ben Shahn

Located in Henderson, NV

Medium: original lithograph. This lithograph was printed in 1958 for the "Improvisations" portfolio, published by the Artists Equity Association of New York on the occasion of the 19...

Category

1950s Ben Shahn

Materials

Lithograph

Martin Luther King Jr. I Have A Dream, 1981 Lithograph on Somerset, 25.25x19
Martin Luther King Jr. I Have A Dream, 1981 Lithograph on Somerset, 25.25x19

Martin Luther King Jr. I Have A Dream, 1981 Lithograph on Somerset, 25.25x19

By Ben Shahn

Located in Union City, NJ

BEN SHAHN - Martin Luther King, Jr. - I Have A Dream is a limited run, plate signed, commemorative lithograph recreated after the wood engraving by Stefan Martin(1936 - 1994), an Ame...

Category

1980s Contemporary Ben Shahn

Materials

Lithograph

Untitled Pen Drawing on Paper, Contemporary, Signed, 1950s, Unframed

Untitled Pen Drawing on Paper, Contemporary, Signed, 1950s, Unframed

By Ben Shahn

Located in Roma, IT

Untitled is an drawing realized by Ben Shahn (Kovno 1898-New York 1969) Pen drawing on paper applied on canvas. Hand-signed lower right: Ben Shahn. Some light folds and discoloring...

Category

1950s Contemporary Ben Shahn

Materials

Paper, Mixed Media, Canvas

Many Men from the Rilke Portfolio, Minimalist lithograph by Ben Shahn
Many Men from the Rilke Portfolio, Minimalist lithograph by Ben Shahn

Many Men from the Rilke Portfolio, Minimalist lithograph by Ben Shahn

By Ben Shahn

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Ben Shahn, Lithuanian/American (1898 - 1969) Title: Many Men from the Rilke Portfolio Year: 1968 Medium: Lithograph on Richard de Bas, signed in the plate Edition Size: 750 S...

Category

1960s American Realist Ben Shahn

Materials

Lithograph

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Ben Shahn Sale Prices

Sold DateSold PriceCategoryMediumCreation Year
2026$645Animal PrintsLithograph1968
2025$72Prints and MultiplesOffset Print
2025$3,600More PrintsLithograph1965
2025$1,200Figurative PrintsLithograph1965
2025$360Figurative Prints, Portrait PrintsLithograph1981
2025$350PostersPaper1963
2025$600Still-life Prints, Figurative PrintsLithograph1968
2025$550Still-life Prints, Figurative PrintsLithograph1968
$922
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months
$72-$3,600
Sold price range of items in the past 12 months

Artists Similar to Ben Shahn

Ben Shahn art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Ben Shahn art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Ben Shahn in lithograph, screen print, silver gelatin print and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large Ben Shahn art, so small editions measuring 8 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Chaim Gross, André Minaux, and Renato Guttuso. Ben Shahn art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $100 and tops out at $40,000, while the average work can sell for $750.
Questions About Ben Shahn
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 7, 2024
    The style of art of Ben Shahn is social realism. Artists working in this movement sought to highlight social issues by depicting scenes that showed the struggles of modern-day life. For example, Shahn produced four paintings and more than 100 drawings inspired by a 1947 mining accident that killed 111 people in Centralia, Illinois. Arguably the most famous of these works is Miner's Wives, which shows the widows of the miners in mourning. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of Ben Shahn art.