Hugo Gellert
American, born Hungary, 1892 - 1985Curse of the Modern World, 1943
Not on view
Silkscreen on paper
Dimensions20 × 16 in.
Gift of Mr. Jack B. Pierson, 1986.107
Born Hugo Grünbaum in Hungary, he moved with his family to the United States in 1906, where they changed their last name to Gellert. He studied at Cooper Union and the National Academy of Design. One of the most influential political artists of the 20th century, Gellert believed that art and political agitation were one and the same. He became interested in politics at the outbreak of World War I and the death of his brother. In the 1920s, Gellert became an open member of the Communist Party.
Gellert contributed to many Leftist publications including The Masses, The Liberator, and New Masses. From 1920 to 1922, he taught at Stelton School, a radical community school. In 1929 William Gropper, Jacob Burck, Anton Refregier, Louis Lozowick, and Gellert established the first John Reed Club. After taking part in a protest in 1934, Gellert helped form the Artists’ Committee of Action, the Artists’ Union, and co-published Art Front. He served as the editor of Art Front and the chairman of the Artists’ Committee of Action. In the 1930s, Gellert helped organize the American Artists’ Congress. Gellert was actively involved in the Popular Front and loyal to the Communist Party. When he was called before the House of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), he was nearly deported.
Curse of the Modern World was one of nineteen silkscreen prints from the portfolio Century of the Common Man. The portfolio illustrated a 1943 speech by Vice President Henry Wallace. In the portfolio, Gellert juxtaposes imagery of people of various races with anti-Nazi and anti-fascist imagery.
