Horace Pippin

Horace Pippin was a self-taught African American artist at the turn of the 19th century. After losing dexterity in his right arm while fighting in World War I, Pippin began painting to strengthen his muscles—often using his left hand to guide his right. Pippin’s paintings portrayed the deep injustices of slavery and segregation embedded in America’s past (and present). He was critically well-received during his lifetime—a rare and difficult achievement for a black artist in the early 20th century.