On Edward Hicks

Sanford Schwartz explores the career of 19th-century Quaker folk artist Edward Hicks, revealing him as an imaginative artist who painted the Peaceable Kingdom, a self-taught profession of Quaker pacifism. The paintings, made over 30 years, tell a richer story of Hicks as a person and painter who was passionate, empathic, and connected to his community.

Format: Hardback
Length: 152 pages
Publication date: 23 April 2021
Publisher: Pulitzer Foundation For The Arts

Sanford Schwartz delves into the remarkable career of 19th-century Quaker folk artist Edward Hicks, whose iconic painting "The Peaceable Kingdom" has become one of the most recognizable scenes in American art. Hicks, known for his religious beliefs as a Quaker minister, created numerous renditions of this peaceful scene, portraying a harmonious coexistence between wild and carnivorous animals and defenseless creatures, where they refrain from harming each other. However, Schwartz's comprehensive study challenges the notion that Hicks's paintings solely represent a self-taught artist's profession of Quaker pacifism. Through a detailed examination of Hicks's life and work, Schwartz reveals him as an imaginative artist who transcends time. The author immerses readers in the world of Hicks, portraying him as a passionate, empathetic, and deeply connected figure to his community. Schwartz also highlights the artistic similarities between Hicks's Kingdom series and the work of mainstream artists of his era, as well as what we now recognize as outsider art. This insightful exploration sheds new light on Hicks's legacy and his place in the history of American art.

Weight: 676g
Dimension: 180 x 237 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781646570065