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Portrait of a man with a brown cap and text that reads "Art for The Millions"
Exhibition

Art for the Millions: American Culture and Politics in the 1930s

September 7–December 10, 2023
Previously on view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Galleries 691–693
Free with Museum admission
All exhibitions
OverviewExhibition Objects
Dress, Ruth Reeves American, linen, plastic (Bakelite), American
Dress
Ruth Reeves
W. & J. Sloane
ca. 1930
Grand Canyon National Park, A Free Government Service, C. Don Powell American, Screenprint
Grand Canyon National Park, A Free Government Service
C. Don Powell
Department of the Interior, National Park Service
ca. 1938
Yellowstone National Park, Ranger Naturalist Service, C. Don Powell American, Screenprint
Yellowstone National Park, Ranger Naturalist Service
C. Don Powell
Department of the Interior, National Park Service
ca. 1938
Lassen Volcanic National Park, Ranger Naturalist Service, C. Don Powell American, Screenprint
Lassen Volcanic National Park, Ranger Naturalist Service
C. Don Powell
Department of the Interior, National Park Service
ca. 1938
Fort Marion National Monument, St. Augustine, Florida, C. Don Powell American, Screenprint
Fort Marion National Monument, St. Augustine, Florida
C. Don Powell
Department of the Interior, National Park Service
ca. 1938
"One Third of a Nation", O. Louis Guglielmi American, born Egypt, Oil and tempera on Masonite
"One Third of a Nation"
O. Louis Guglielmi
1939
The Soup Kitchen, Norman Lewis American, Lithograph
The Soup Kitchen
Norman Lewis
ca. 1937
Unlawful Assembly, Union Square, Edward Laning American, Oil and tempera on linen, mounted on paperboard
Unlawful Assembly, Union Square
Edward Laning
1931
Three Lane Traffic, Harry Gottlieb American, Lithograph
Three Lane Traffic
Harry Gottlieb
WPA
1937
Untitled (Study for Queensbridge Housing Project Mural), Philip Guston American, born Canada, Colored pencil and ink on paper
Untitled (Study for Queensbridge Housing Project Mural)
Philip Guston
1939
Strike Over Murder of Union Agent, Weegee American, born Austria-Hungary, Gelatin silver print
Strike Over Murder of Union Agent
Weegee
ca. 1940
Untitled (Strike), Dox Thrash American, Watercolor
Untitled (Strike)
Dox Thrash
ca. 1940
[Demonstration, San Francisco], Dorothea Lange American, Gelatin silver print
[Demonstration, San Francisco]
Dorothea Lange
1933
Kenneth Fearing, Alice Neel American, Oil on canvas
Kenneth Fearing
Alice Neel
Kenneth Fearing
1935
Miner Joe, Elizabeth Olds American, Screenprint
Miner Joe
Elizabeth Olds
1942
Builders, Harry Sternberg American, Lithograph
Builders
Harry Sternberg
WPA
1935
Rock Drillers, Harry Gottlieb American, Screenprint
Rock Drillers
Harry Gottlieb
WPA
1939
Night Repairs, Louis Lozowick American, born Ukraine, Lithograph
Night Repairs
Louis Lozowick
WPA
1939
San Francisco Pier, David Paul Chun American, Lithograph
San Francisco Pier
David Paul Chun
WPA
1943
Asphalt Workers, James Lesesne Wells American, Lithograph
Asphalt Workers
James Lesesne Wells
1940
Teeming Ingots, James Edmund Allen American, Etching
Teeming Ingots
James Edmund Allen
1935
The Builders, James Edmund Allen American, Etching
The Builders
James Edmund Allen
1932
Curtain Factory, Riva Helfond American, Lithograph
Curtain Factory
Riva Helfond
WPA
ca. 1936–39
Burlesque, Elizabeth Olds American, Lithograph
Burlesque
Elizabeth Olds
WPA
1936
Welders, Ben Shahn American, born Lithuania, Gouache on board
Welders
Ben Shahn
1943
People in a Boat, Robert Blackburn American, Lithograph
People in a Boat
Robert Blackburn
1938
Machinery and Large Scale Industry 44, Hugo Gellert American, born Hungary, Lithograph
Machinery and Large Scale Industry 44
Hugo Gellert
1933
Machinery and Large Scale Industry 46, Hugo Gellert American, born Hungary, Lithograph
Machinery and Large Scale Industry 46
Hugo Gellert
1933
Man and Machine, Ida York Abelman American, Lithograph
Man and Machine
Ida York Abelman
WPA
ca. 1939
Louis Lozowick, Ralph Steiner American, Gelatin silver print
Louis Lozowick
Ralph Steiner
1920s–30s
Daily Worker, Hugo Gellert American, born Hungary, Lithograph
Daily Worker
Hugo Gellert
ca. 1935
The Communist Party, Hugo Gellert American, born Hungary, Lithograph
The Communist Party
Hugo Gellert
ca. 1935
New Masses Magazine, July 1931, Hugo Gellert American, born Hungary, Photomechanical relief print
New Masses Magazine, July 1931
Hugo Gellert
New Masses, Inc.
July 1931
New Masses Magazine, November 1931, Phil Bard American, Photomechanical relief print
New Masses Magazine, November 1931
Phil Bard
New Masses, Inc.
November 1931
New Masses Magazine, April 1932, William Gropper American, Photomechanical relief print
New Masses Magazine, April 1932
William Gropper
New Masses, Inc.
April 1932
New Masses Magazine, May 1932, William Gropper American, Photomechanical relief print
New Masses Magazine, May 1932
William Gropper
New Masses, Inc.
May 1932
New Masses Magazine, September 1932, Jacob Burck American, Photomechanical relief print
New Masses Magazine, September 1932
Jacob Burck
New Masses, Inc.
September 1932
New Masses Magazine, November 1932, Walter Steinhilber American, Photomechanical relief print
New Masses Magazine, November 1932
Walter Steinhilber
New Masses, Inc.
November 1932
Der Hammer, Workers' Monthly, July 1933, William Gropper American, Photomechanical relief print
Der Hammer, Workers' Monthly, July 1933
Multiple artists/makers
July 1933
Der Hammer, Workers' Monthly, April 1934, Joseph Moissaye Olgin, Photomechanical relief print
Der Hammer, Workers' Monthly, April 1934
Multiple artists/makers
April 1934
Der Hammer, Workers' Monthly, May 1934, Joseph Moissaye Olgin, Photomechanical relief print
Der Hammer, Workers' Monthly, May 1934
Multiple artists/makers
May 1934
Der Hammer, Workers' Monthly, August 1934, Joseph Moissaye Olgin, Photomechanical relief print
Der Hammer, Workers' Monthly, August 1934
Multiple artists/makers
August 1934
Labor Defender, August 1930, John Louis Engdahl American, Photomechanical relief print
Labor Defender, August 1930
John Louis Engdahl
Labor Defender
August 1930
Labor Defender, October 1930, John Louis Engdahl American, Photomechanical relief print
Labor Defender, October 1930
John Louis Engdahl
Labor Defender
October 1930
Labor Defender, December 1930, John Louis Engdahl American, Photomechanical relief print
Labor Defender, December 1930
John Louis Engdahl
Labor Defender
December 1930
Labor Defender, December 1931, John Louis Engdahl American, Photomechanical relief print
Labor Defender, December 1931
John Louis Engdahl
Labor Defender
December 1931
Labor Defender, February 1932, John Louis Engdahl American, Photomechanical relief print
Labor Defender, February 1932
John Louis Engdahl
Labor Defender
February 1932
Labor Defender, May 1932, John Louis Engdahl American, Photomechanical relief print
Labor Defender, May 1932
John Louis Engdahl
Labor Defender
May 1932
Americana, Charles Sheeler American, Oil on canvas
Americana
Charles Sheeler
1931
Shaker Refectory Table with Benches, Alfred H. Smith American, Watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Shaker Refectory Table with Benches
Alfred H. Smith
ca. 1936
Face Jug, Frank Fumagalli American, Watercolor and gouache over graphite on paperboard
Face Jug
Frank Fumagalli
ca. 1936
Chair Seat, Suzanne Chapman American, Watercolor and graphite
Chair Seat
Suzanne Chapman
1935–42
Blanket, Ethel Dougan American, Watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paperboard
Blanket
Ethel Dougan
1935–42
Adam and Eve, Yolande Delasser American, Watercolor over graphite with scraping
Adam and Eve
Yolande Delasser
ca. 1939
Adam and Eve and the Serpent, José Dolores López American, Wood
Adam and Eve and the Serpent
José Dolores López
ca. 1930
Pueblo Parrot Dance, Tonita Peña Pueblo, Gouache over graphite
Pueblo Parrot Dance
Tonita Peña
ca. 1935
Deer Hunters, Velino Shije Herrera American, Zia Pueblo, Gouache over graphite on paperboard
Deer Hunters
Velino Shije Herrera
ca. 1930
Cow's Skull: Red, White, and Blue, Georgia O'Keeffe American, Oil on canvas
Cow's Skull: Red, White, and Blue
Georgia O'Keeffe
1931
Approaching Storm, Thomas Hart Benton American, Lithograph
Approaching Storm
Thomas Hart Benton
1940
Flood, Seymour Lipton American, Oak
Flood
Seymour Lipton
1937
Albert Pinkham Ryder, Marsden Hartley American, Oil on commercially prepared paperboard (academy board)
Albert Pinkham Ryder
Marsden Hartley
1938
Sojourner Truth and Booker T. Washington, Charles Wilbert White American, Graphite on paperboard
Sojourner Truth and Booker T. Washington
Charles Wilbert White
1943
John Brown, John Steuart Curry American, Lithograph
John Brown
John Steuart Curry
Associated American Artists
1939
Evolution of Swing, Raymond Steth American, Lithograph
Evolution of Swing
Raymond Steth
WPA
1939
Dress, H.R. Mallinson & Co. American, silk, American
Dress
H.R. Mallinson & Co.
1929
Years of Dust (Poster for the United States Resettlement Administration), Ben Shahn American, born Lithuania, Lithograph
Years of Dust (Poster for the United States Resettlement Administration)
Ben Shahn
1937
[Floyd and Lucille Burroughs on Porch, Hale County, Alabama], Walker Evans American, Gelatin silver print
[Floyd and Lucille Burroughs on Porch, Hale County, Alabama]
Walker Evans
1936
[African American Family at Gee's Bend, Alabama], Arthur Rothstein American, Gelatin silver print
[African American Family at Gee's Bend, Alabama]
Arthur Rothstein
1937
[Mexican Migrant Family with Tire Trouble, California], Dorothea Lange American, Gelatin silver print
[Mexican Migrant Family with Tire Trouble, California]
Dorothea Lange
February 1936
Cotton Pickers, Pulaski County, Arkansas, Ben Shahn American, born Lithuania, Gelatin silver print
Cotton Pickers, Pulaski County, Arkansas
Ben Shahn
October 1935
[Street Scene, Natchez, Mississippi: Two Women Walking along Sidewalk before Storefront], Ben Shahn American, born Lithuania, Gelatin silver print
[Street Scene, Natchez, Mississippi: Two Women Walking along Sidewalk before Storefront]
Ben Shahn
1935
[Barber Shops, Vicksburg, Mississippi], Walker Evans American, Gelatin silver print
[Barber Shops, Vicksburg, Mississippi]
Walker Evans
1936
View of Atlanta, Hale Woodruff American, Linocut
View of Atlanta
Hale Woodruff
1935
Georgia Cotton Crop, Dox Thrash American, Carborundum print
Georgia Cotton Crop
Dox Thrash
ca. 1944–45
New England Landscape II, Yasuo Kuniyoshi American, born Japan, Lithograph
New England Landscape II
Yasuo Kuniyoshi
1941
"Streamliner" Meat slicer, Egmont Hegel Arens American, Aluminum, steel, rubber, paper and organic rests
"Streamliner" Meat slicer
Multiple artists/makers
1940
"Patriot", Norman Bel Geddes American, Green plastic: Catalin (phenol formaldehyde)<br/>Red and white plastics: cellulose acetate<br/>Clear plastic: vinylchloride polymer
"Patriot"
Norman Bel Geddes
Emerson Radio and Phonograph Corp., New York
ca. 1940
Polaroid Desk Lamp 114, Walter Dorwin Teague American, Bakelite, aluminum, cellulose acetate
Polaroid Desk Lamp 114
Multiple artists/makers
1939
Electric clock, Gilbert Rohde American, Chrome-plated and painted metal, glass
Electric clock
Gilbert Rohde
The Herman Miller Furniture Company, Zeeland, Michigan
ca. 1933
"Radio Nurse", Isamu Noguchi American, Bakelite, cellulose acetate
"Radio Nurse"
Multiple artists/makers
1937
Desk Lamp, Gilbert Rohde American, Chrome-plated steel, brass
Desk Lamp
Gilbert Rohde
Mutual-Sunset Lamp Manufacturing Company, Inc., Brooklyn, NY
1933
"Manhattan" Cocktail Ensemble, Norman Bel Geddes American, Chrome-plated brass
"Manhattan" Cocktail Ensemble
Norman Bel Geddes
Revere Copper and Brass Company, Rome, NY
1935–40
Men and Machine, Stuart Davis American, Oil on canvas
Men and Machine
Stuart Davis
1934
Catastrophe, Doris Lee American, Oil on canvas
Catastrophe
Doris Lee
1936
Fort Peck Dam, Montana, Margaret Bourke-White American, Gelatin silver print
Fort Peck Dam, Montana
Margaret Bourke-White
1936
Life, Margaret Bourke-White American, Photomechanical relief print
Life
Margaret Bourke-White
1936
Stranding Machine, Aluminum Company of America, Margaret Bourke-White American, Gelatin silver print
Stranding Machine, Aluminum Company of America
Margaret Bourke-White
1940
Fortune, January 1937, Time, Inc., Lithograph
Fortune, January 1937
Time, Inc.
January 1937
Fortune, April 1937, Time, Inc., Lithograph
Fortune, April 1937
Time, Inc.
April 1937
Fortune, May 1937, Time, Inc., Lithograph
Fortune, May 1937
Time, Inc.
May 1937
Fortune, June 1937, Time, Inc., Lithograph
Fortune, June 1937
Time, Inc.
June 1937
Fortune, July 1937, Time, Inc., Lithograph
Fortune, July 1937
Time, Inc.
July 1937
Fortune, September 1937, Time, Inc., Lithograph
Fortune, September 1937
Time, Inc.
September 1937
Fortune, October 1937, Time, Inc., Lithograph
Fortune, October 1937
Time, Inc.
October 1937
Fortune, December 1937, Time, Inc., Lithograph
Fortune, December 1937
Time, Inc.
December 1937
Rural Electrification Administration, Wash Day, Lester Beall American, Screenprint
Rural Electrification Administration, Wash Day
Lester Beall
1937
Rural Electrification Administration, Light, Lester Beall American, Screenprint
Rural Electrification Administration, Light
Lester Beall
1937
Rural Electrification Administration, Running Water, Lester Beall American, Screenprint
Rural Electrification Administration, Running Water
Lester Beall
1937
Rural Electrification Administration, Radio, Lester Beall American, Screenprint
Rural Electrification Administration, Radio
Lester Beall
1937
Chicago World’s Fair, a Century of Progress, Weimer Pursell American, Screenprint
Chicago World’s Fair, a Century of Progress
Weimer Pursell
Neely Printing Company, Chicago
1933
New York World’s Fair, the World of Tomorrow, 1939, Joseph Binder American, Lithograph
New York World’s Fair, the World of Tomorrow, 1939
Joseph Binder
Grinnell Litho Co.
1939
World's Fair, Chicago. A Century of Progress, 1833-1933, Glen C. Sheffer American, Lithograph
World's Fair, Chicago. A Century of Progress, 1833-1933
Glen C. Sheffer
Goes Lithographing Company
1933
Lift Every Voice and Sing (The Harp), Augusta Savage American, White metal cast with a black patina
Lift Every Voice and Sing (The Harp)
Augusta Savage
1939
“Lift Every Voice and Sing (The Harp)” by Augusta Savage, New York World’s Fair, Augusta Savage American, Offset lithograph
“Lift Every Voice and Sing (The Harp)” by Augusta Savage, New York World’s Fair
Augusta Savage
1939
Chrysler Building, Chicago World’s Fair, Max Rigot Selling Company American, Offset lithograph
Chrysler Building, Chicago World’s Fair
Max Rigot Selling Company
C.T. Art-Colortone, Curt Teich
1933
Three Fluted Towers Around Dome of Federal Building, Chicago World’s Fair, Max Rigot Selling Company American, Offset lithograph
Three Fluted Towers Around Dome of Federal Building, Chicago World’s Fair
Max Rigot Selling Company
C.T. Art-Colortone, Curt Teich
1933
Night View of World’s Fair Grounds from Observation Platform of Sky Ride, Chicago World’s Fair, Max Rigot Selling Company American, Offset lithograph
Night View of World’s Fair Grounds from Observation Platform of Sky Ride, Chicago World’s Fair
Max Rigot Selling Company
C.T. Art-Colortone, Curt Teich
1933
Hall of Science, Chicago World’s Fair, Max Rigot Selling Company American, Offset lithograph
Hall of Science, Chicago World’s Fair
Max Rigot Selling Company
C.T. Art-Colortone, Curt Teich
1933
New York City Building and Perisphere and Trylon, New York World’s Fair, C.T. Art-Colortone, Curt Teich, Offset lithograph
New York City Building and Perisphere and Trylon, New York World’s Fair
C.T. Art-Colortone, Curt Teich
1939
Parachute Jump, New York World’s Fair, C.T. Art-Colortone, Curt Teich, Offset lithograph
Parachute Jump, New York World’s Fair
C.T. Art-Colortone, Curt Teich
1939
Flag Display, New York World’s Fair, C.T. Art-Colortone, Curt Teich, Offset lithograph
Flag Display, New York World’s Fair
C.T. Art-Colortone, Curt Teich
1939
Freedom Statue, Trylon and Perisphere, New York World’s Fair, C.T. Art-Colortone, Curt Teich, Offset lithograph
Freedom Statue, Trylon and Perisphere, New York World’s Fair
C.T. Art-Colortone, Curt Teich
1939
Scarf, Ruth Reeves American, silk, American
Scarf
Ruth Reeves
1938
Scarf, Ruth Reeves American, silk, American
Scarf
Ruth Reeves
1938
[1939 New York World's Fair, Entrance to Perisphere], Samuel H. Gottscho American, Gelatin silver print
[1939 New York World's Fair, Entrance to Perisphere]
Samuel H. Gottscho
ca. 1939
[Locomotive, with Entrance to Perisphere of 1939 New York World's Fair in Background], Samuel H. Gottscho American, Gelatin silver print
[Locomotive, with Entrance to Perisphere of 1939 New York World's Fair in Background]
Samuel H. Gottscho
ca. 1939