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Glite Dictionary
Benjamin Shahn

Benjamin Shahn

7.4
An American artist who painted about social and political issues
  • proper noun
  • /ˈbɛnʤəmɪn ʃɑn/
: Benjamin Shahn
  • Benjamin Shahn's paintings often commented on injustice and the struggles of the working class.

Examples

  • The museum is holding a retrospective of Benjamin Shahn this summer.

  • Many students study Benjamin Shahn for his unique combination of art and social activism.

  • The works of Benjamin Shahn often depict social injustices.

  • Did you see the exhibition featuring Benjamin Shahn at the museum?

  • Benjamin Shahn's art vividly captures the hardships of marginalized communities.

  • In art history classes, students learn about Benjamin Shahn and his impact on social change.

  • The gallery is showcasing a collection of artworks by Benjamin Shahn that focus on political themes.

Synonyms

Ben Shahn
vsBenjamin Shahn
1 8.5

An American artist who made art about working people's lives and politics

is the full formal personal name for the same artist

Surface Forms

Benjamin Shahn main

Morphology

Benjamin + Shahn

This is a personal name (proper noun) referring to a specific individual; the identity, dates, and biographical meaning cannot be composed from the constituents 'Benjamin' and 'Shahn'. Personal names are arbitrary labels rather than compositional phrases, so a B1 learner who knows the words would not be able to infer that this refers to a U.S. artist known for social and political themes.

Etymology

Benjamin Shahn became famous for using strong, simple images and hand-written words in his art to show unfairness and the daily life of ordinary people. Because he painted about real social and political problems, his name now makes us think of art about 'injustice' and 'working-class struggles'.