Ben Shahn and his family immigrated to the United States from Lithuania in 1906. The young Shahn worked as a lithographer’s apprentice during the day while attending high school at night. He continued to support himself as a printer until 1930, while also attending New York University, City College, the National Academy of Design, and the Art Students League. This experience of working as a printer while studying perhaps led to his belief that there was no distinction between commercial and fine art. 

Shahn originally created the drawings for the Haggadah displayed here in the 1930s. The Haggadah is a crucial part of the Jewish celebration of Passover. It tells the story of the exodus of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt and facilitates rituals that are part of the Seder meal. Some contemporary versions of the Haggadah draw comparisons between the exodus and current injustices. Shahn’s political convictions ran deep, and he is noted for his social activism and defense of the oppressed: “One thing I paint is the indomitable ability of the spirit of man to rise from the incredibly impossible situation of morass he’s in.” With this guiding principle, his choice to illustrate the story of Passover was a natural one.

Ben Shahn (American, 1898–1969) and Trianon Press (French, 1947–1983), Haggadah for Passover. Book: lithographs with stencil coloring, collotypes with hand-coloring, and letterpress; clamshell cover: parchment with gilding and silver gilt clasp, 1966. 16 15/16 × 13 × 3 1/4 in. (43 × 33 × 8.3 cm). Purchased with funds given by Janet Rogolsky, 2007.15. On view in Gallery 23A in Expanding Horizons: The Evolving Character of a Nation.