"Departure of the Joads" Thomas H. Benton, lithograph

Abstract

Lithograph on paper which depicts a group of people loading a truck on the countryside. It is night time and a crescent moon is in the sky behind a few clouds. There is a small cabin in the background on the left. There are approximately ten figures throughout the image. The artist signed his name twice - once in the lower left corner and again in the lower right corner. There is a small tear at the top to the left of the center. Otherwise condition is good. The back has "89.74" written in red ink in the top right corner. In the center there is an offwhite colored, square shaped note which reads "NEVER HANDLE PICTURES BY WIRE / This picture should be hung on / two (2) hangers for safe hanging. / Hangers should be placed approxi- / mately four inches from each / screw eye." Underneath this is a drawing depicting the correct way to hang the photograph. In the bottom left corner there is a small silver ractangular sticker which reads "PROPERTY OF / SOUTHWESTERN AT MEMPHIS / No 13177."