Thomas W. Benton Silkscreen Signed Robinson Jeffers Poetry Series
Item History & Price
Thomas Whelan Benton (1930-2007) was an American artist best known for his political posters and silkscreen artwork. His friendship and collaboration with gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson spanned more than four decades and created or inspired some of the artist's most recognized works.
This serigraph belongs to a series of compositions featuring lines from poets. According to the site tomwbenton.com (which currently offers other prints from this series for $7500):...>Benton combined his love of poetry, quotes and design to create dozens of conceptual works of art. The visual images and words work in tandem to make a point and leave ample room for the viewer to reflect on the composition. His choice of words were as beautifully crafted as the art, and they perfectly complemented each other.
Benton was well read and particularly fond of T.S. Elliot, Shakespeare, Robinson Jeffers, and the Japanese writers Izumi Shikibu, Minamoto No Morotada, and Ki No Tsurayaki. His close friend, Joe Henry, was a frequent collaborator, and he would also quote from such diverse sources as Grateful Dead lyrics and the Bible.
Artist and friend Ian Cion said he remembers certain poems specifically because of Benton’s art. “He helped make poetry matter to me, and art to matter to me, ” Cion said. “Later, as we became friends, he helped me believe that it mattered that I cared about these things, and tended to them.”
Signed in pencil by the artist. Framed behind glass in a contemporary metal frame. There is a small chip in the glass in the lower left corner, only visible from an angle (see photo above). Not examined out of frame, but the impression looks to be in perfect condition. I am selling three other prints in this series on my store.
Image: 26 x 20 inches
This serigraph belongs to a series of compositions featuring lines from poets. According to the site tomwbenton.com (which currently offers other prints from this series for $7500):
Benton was well read and particularly fond of T.S. Elliot, Shakespeare, Robinson Jeffers, and the Japanese writers Izumi Shikibu, Minamoto No Morotada, and Ki No Tsurayaki. His close friend, Joe Henry, was a frequent collaborator, and he would also quote from such diverse sources as Grateful Dead lyrics and the Bible.
Artist and friend Ian Cion said he remembers certain poems specifically because of Benton’s art. “He helped make poetry matter to me, and art to matter to me, ” Cion said. “Later, as we became friends, he helped me believe that it mattered that I cared about these things, and tended to them.”
Signed in pencil by the artist. Framed behind glass in a contemporary metal frame. There is a small chip in the glass in the lower left corner, only visible from an angle (see photo above). Not examined out of frame, but the impression looks to be in perfect condition. I am selling three other prints in this series on my store.
Image: 26 x 20 inches
