Question

Which of the following is a characteristic of Social Realist Ben Shahn's painting The Passion of Sacco and Vanzetti?

The Passion of Sacco and Vanzetti, painting by Ben Shahn, showing three men standing with flowers in hand near two coffins


The painting employs a bold, Expressionist color palette to enhance the drama.


The painting placed the most important figures in the center, representing them the most realistically.


The painting made a strong statement about a historical event of the eighteenth century.


The painting uses flat shapes and sharp, angular forms to create abstract figures.

Answer 1

Ben Shahn's painting 'The Passion of Sacco and Vanzetti' characteristically places the important figures centrally and represents them realistically, aligning with the principles of Social Realism.

Step-by-step explanation:

The characteristic of Social Realist Ben Shahn's painting The Passion of Sacco and Vanzetti that stands out is that the painting placed the most important figures in the center, representing them the most realistically. This approach is typical of the Social Realism art movement, which aimed to depict everyday subjects and situations in contemporary settings, often highlighting the lives and struggles of the working class with a serious demeanor. This movement arose in parallel with the emergence of socialism and was influenced by ideas from Karl Marx. Social Realists like Shahn sought to portray real, often stark, social issues without beautification, and The Passion of Sacco and Vanzetti makes a strong statement about the controversial and historically significant trial of the two Italian American anarchists in the twentieth century, not the eighteenth as one of the incorrect options suggests.

Answer 2

The painting uses flat shapes and sharp, angular forms to create abstract figures.