We are pleased to share an important, late lithograph by Charles White (American, 1918-1979). I Have A Dream (1976), shows the masterful draftsmanship for which White is celebrated. This elegant work shows us a sleeping child cradled by serene, upward looking woman. Evoking both religious imagery and the connection between mother and child, this print brilliantly summarizes White's mastery of portraying the strength of the human spirit. The title references the iconic speech of the same title given by Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. on the occasion of the 1963 March on Washington calling for an end to racism and for civil and economic rights for all.
This important work was commissioned by the Graphic Arts Council of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to celebrate Two Centuries of Black American Art, a major exhibition organized for the American bicentennial year. This lithograph was so popular that it became a sold-out fine art print as well as a poster for the 1976 exhibition.
This lithograph is included in the current ground breaking retrospective exhibition of drawing, prints and lesser known oil paintings by Charles White at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, which remains on view through June 9, 2019.
