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?

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

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...

DNLee said...

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

Unknown said...

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

Urban Thought said...

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

Unknown said...

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!

Black on Campus said...

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.

MattM3 said...

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

iriegal said...

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

Anonymous said...

A image that brings out the imagination cells in one.

isabella mori said...

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?

Gattina said...

Horrible !