The artwork, titled “John Brown Going To His Hanging,” was created by Horace Pippin in 1942. This piece is a part of the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement and falls under the genre of history painting.
In the artwork, there is a depiction of a historical scene where John Brown is led to his hanging. The composition features a cart surrounded by figures dressed in period attire, moving through a small crowd. Buildings and stark winter trees frame the scene, enhancing the somber and tense atmosphere. The use of muted colors and simplified forms characteristic of Naïve Art draws the viewer’s attention to the gravity of the moment. The overall effect is a poignant representation of a significant event in American history.
