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Year: 1937

Who: Dox Thrash (1893–1965)

Where: United States of America

What: Dox Thrash (1893–1965) was a trailblazing printmaker whose innovative techniques and compelling imagery captured the richness of African American life. Born in Griffin, Georgia, Thrash grew up in a former slave cabin and demonstrated artistic talent early on, taking correspondence art courses as a teenager. In 1911, he moved to Chicago, where he worked as an elevator operator by day and attended night classes at the Art Institute of Chicago. After serving in World War I, he utilized veteran benefits to study art full-time, refining his skills and developing a deep passion for printmaking.

During the Great Depression, Thrash's career was revitalized when he joined the Works Progress Administration’s Fine Print Workshop in Philadelphia. There, in 1937, he collaborated with Michael Gallagher and Hubert Mesibov to invent the carborundum printmaking process. This groundbreaking technique involved using silicon carbide—a gritty industrial material—to roughen copper plates, enabling artists to achieve an extraordinary range of tonal gradations. Unlike traditional etching, which adds marks to a blank plate, carborundum printing works from dark to light, allowing for inky blacks, soft grays, and luminous whites. Thrash affectionately named the process the "Opheliagraph" in honor of his mother, Ophelia.

Thrash’s prints, many of which depict the everyday lives of African Americans, are celebrated for their emotional depth and technical mastery. His work ranged from stirring portraits of neighbors in Philadelphia to scenes from his rural Georgia upbringing. The carborundum process, hailed as the first major innovation in printmaking in over a century, showcased Thrash’s artistry and ingenuity, yet he often did not receive the recognition he deserved as its pioneer.

Today, Thrash’s contributions to art and printmaking are increasingly acknowledged, and his legacy serves as a powerful testament to the creative achievements of Black artists during the 20th century.


Sources:

Websites:

Journal Articles:

  • Brigham, D. R. (1990). Bridging identities: Dox Thrash as African American and artist. Smithsonian Studies in American Art, 4(2), 27-39.

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