Horace Pippin
West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Born in West Chester in 1888, Pippin occupied this house from 1920 until his death in 1946. A self-taught black artist, he painted while living here such notable works as "Domino Players," "John Brown Going to His Hanging," and the "Holy Mountain" series.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
Horace Pippin returned from World War I with a wounded right arm and, undeterred, taught himself to paint by guiding his brush with his other hand. From this West Chester house he produced some of the most powerful American folk paintings of the 20th century, including his searing meditations on abolitionist John Brown and his radiant "Holy Mountain" series. Discovered by the art world in the late 1930s, he became one of the most celebrated self-taught Black artists of his era.
Why it matters
Pippin proved that a Black working-class veteran with no formal training could produce art of national importance, and his canvases gave voice to African American memory and the yearning for peace.
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Related people
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Themes & tags
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