Pippin, Horace, 1888-1946

Born in West Chester, Pa., in 1888 Pippin was a self-taught primitive painter. His fighting experiences in France during World War I greatly influenced his later paintings. During the war, he was wounded and lost the use of his right arm. When painting, he had to use his left hand to guide his right. He gained a national reputation as a "true American primitive" in the 1940s, when his bold narrative paintings of childhood memories, war experiences, heroes, African American genre scenes, and religious subjects were widely exhibited, including his famous painting of the hanging of John Brown. Pippin died in 1946.

From the guide to the Horace Pippin notebooks and letters, circa 1920s, 1943, (Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution)

Painter; West Chester, Pa.

Self-taught artist; painted in an American primitive style.

From the description of Horace Pippin printed material, 1939-1946. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 85185372

Horace Pippin (1888 - 1946) was a self-taught painter from West Chester, Pa.

Pippin was inspired to paint by his experiences in World War I. He lost the use of his right arm when wounded during the war and, when painting, had to use his left hand to guide his right. He gained a national reputation as a "true American primitive" in the 1940s, when his bold narrative paintings of childhood memories, war experiences, heroes, and religious subjects were widely exhibited.

From the description of Horace Pippin notebooks and letters, circa 1920, 1943. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 227189805