From The Grapes of Wrath

Thomas Hart Benton, 1939

(Art Institute of Chicago)

Departure of the Joads

He was born in Neosho, Missouri in 1889 and died in 1975.

He was named after his great-uncle, Thomas Hart Benton, who was one of the first two United States Senators from Missouri.

His almost chiseled paintings showed everyday outlook of life in the United States.

Artist Biography: Thomas Hart Benton

Thomas Hart Benton

Benton married Rita Piacenza in 1922.They met while Benton was teaching art

classes for a neighborhood organization in New York City and she was one of his students.

He is best known as a muralist and his works may be seen in the New School for Social Research.

He is assured a permanent place among America's greatest artists.

Bio Continued

Lithograph on ivory wove paper403 x 601 mmThe rugged illustration of structure is

characteristic of Benton's particular regional art.

Egg tempera and oil painting.

Visual Analysis

It embellishes a disagreement between the desire to react to adversity and tragedy by focusing on one’s own desires and the urge to jeopardize one’s safety by working for a common good.

It represents the dust bowl and Depression.

Historical & Contextual Analysis

The rough interpretation of style is distinctive of Benton's unique regional art.

The original painting hangs in the Ralph Foster Museum.

The art was custom-made by 20th Century Fox to promote their film production of John Steinbeck's novel, The Grapes of Wrath.

Significance