Gandhi - Ben Shahn

This original print from an edition of 200 by Ben Shahn features a contemplative portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, drawn in Shahn’s distinctive brush-and-ink line—economical, expressive, and deeply human. Seated cross-legged and wrapped in simple cloth, Gandhi is rendered with the quiet intensity that defined both his presence and Shahn’s best portrait work. Beside the figure is a full block of handwritten text, Shahn’s transcription of “There Has Never Been,” a passage by poet Mark Turver, reflecting on moral integrity, personal sacrifice, and the power of nonviolent resistance. The pairing of image and text forms a visual and philosophical tribute, uniting Gandhi’s likeness with the ideals he embodied.Ben Shahn (1898–1969) was a Lithuanian-born American artist whose work bridged social realism, political art, and modernist graphic expression. Emerging in the 1930s as a leading voice in public art and social commentary, Shahn focused on figures who represented courage, justice, and human dignity—Gandhi among them. His unmistakable style—clean contour lines, expressive lettering, and the merging of word and image—appeared in prints, murals, book illustrations, and major American commissions. Shahn’s work remains celebrated for its moral clarity and its ability to humanize history’s most significant cultural and political figures.Hand-signed by Ben Shahn at lower right, with an additional signature at lower left and the artist’s red seal stamp. Printed on fine art paper with full margins. Excellent condition.