January 7, 2009

Wordless Wednesday: ...And a Special Fear for My Loved Ones


Elizabeth Catlett created this linocut in 1946. Behind the lynched man are three pairs of feet. Do they belong to his assailants or to additional victims?

Drumbeats began:

11 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2009 at 9:09 AM

    Hey Villager!

    I believe those feet belong to the assailants. Something about the way they are positioned around the body indicating folks standing around looking down. Possibility they belong to folks who cut the body down too, I suppose...

    ReplyDelete
  2. DNLeeJanuary 7, 2009 at 9:31 AM

    hmms. I can kinda see the feet dangling, as if those bodies were hanging. those illusion pictures are so interesting to me.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownJanuary 7, 2009 at 10:17 AM

    Very interesting choice as always! I think 2 of the pairs are assailants and the pair on the far right appear to be hanging.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Urban ThoughtJanuary 7, 2009 at 2:54 PM

    You always know how to get a brotha thinking and what not. This image is disturbing, yet, a much needed reminder.

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownJanuary 7, 2009 at 3:27 PM

    All - Amazing how we can all see the same picture and come up with different explanations...

    Urban Observation - The recent use of the term, "lynching", in reference to Roland Burris is what sparked my decision to use a true lynching as my WW object for this week. Whatever is going on with Burris ... it sho' ain't no lynching!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Black on CampusJanuary 7, 2009 at 5:25 PM

    I love Elizabeth Catlett's work. She is one of the finest artist this country has ever produced. This is such a disturbing piece; but it is an important reminder of the racial terrorism that shaped so much of our history and heritage here in the U.S.

    ReplyDelete
  7. MattM3January 7, 2009 at 6:32 PM

    That is an interesting picture. I'm going to guess assailants.

    ReplyDelete
  8. iriegalJanuary 7, 2009 at 8:19 PM

    That is a strong image, one hope in the coming years will fade...

    I feel like teamowens that they are the assailants feet. Sometimes folks gloat over their handiwork

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2009 at 11:45 PM

    A image that brings out the imagination cells in one.

    ReplyDelete
  10. isabella moriJanuary 7, 2009 at 11:47 PM

    saw you over at black on campus - always good to run into you, villager!

    what i find intriguing is that you posted the question. what was going through your mind?

    ReplyDelete
  11. GattinaJanuary 8, 2009 at 1:18 AM

    Horrible !

    ReplyDelete

I appreciate you for sharing your village voice! So few people share their thoughts via these comments. Join us on Twitter or Facebook! Better yet ... get a free subscription to help keep this blog alive.