Description

Landscape with Shepherd by Robert S. Duncanson printed on a T-Shirt

Born free in upstate New York, the Black American painter Duncanson established an international reputation for his Hudson River School inspired landscapes during the Civil War era. Self-taught, he began his career in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he came to the attention of abolitionist leaders, who later sponsored his study in Europe. By 1861, Duncanson was hailed in the American press as “the best landscape painter in the West.” At the height of his career, he successfully toured his paintings in England and Scotland, where he lived for a period of time. Self-exiled in Montreal during the Civil War, Duncanson also helped launch a Canadian landscape movement.

About the T-Shirt

The Unisex Staple T-Shirt feels soft and light with just the right amount of stretch. It’s comfortable and flattering for all. We can’t compliment this shirt enough–it’s one of our crowd favorites, and it’s sure to be your next favorite too! 

• Solid colors are 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton
• Ash color is 99% combed and ring-spun cotton, 1% polyester
• Heather colors are 52% combed and ring-spun cotton, 48% polyester
• Athletic and Black Heather are 90% combed and ring-spun cotton, 10% polyester
• Heather Prism colors are 99% combed and ring-spun cotton, 1% polyester
• Fabric weight: 4.2 oz./yd.² (142 g/m²)
• Pre-shrunk fabric
• 30 singles
• Side-seamed construction
• Tear-away label
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Blank product sourced from Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras, or the US

Robert S. Duncanson (1821-1872)

Robert Seldon Duncanson was a nineteenth century American artist of European and African ancestry known for his contributions to landscape painting. Inspired by famous American landscape artists like Thomas Cole, Duncanson created renowned landscape paintings and is considered a second generation Hudson River School artist. Duncanson spent the majority of his career in Cincinnati, Ohio and helped develop the Ohio River Valley landscape tradition. As a free black man in antebellum America, Duncanson utilized the white abolitionist community in America and England to support and promote his work.

Duncanson is considered the first African-American artist to be internationally known. He operated in the elite cultural circles of Cincinnati, Detroit, Montreal, and London. The primary art historical debate centered on Duncanson concerns the role that contemporary racial issues played in his work. Some art historians, like Joseph D. Ketner, believe that Duncanson used racial metaphors in his artwork, while others, like Margaret Rose Vendryes, discourage viewers from approaching his art with a racialized perspective.