The Resume

(February 22, 1888-July 6, 1946)
Born in West Chester, Pennsylvania
Fought in 369th Infantry during World War I (1917-1918)
Awarded the Croix de Guerre for heroism
Painted ‘The End of the War: Starting Home’ (1930-1933), ‘Woman at Samaria’ (1940), ‘Self Portrait’ (1941), ‘John Brown Going to his Hanging’ (1942), ‘Domino Players’ (1943), and ‘Harmonizing’ (1944)
Formally trained in art at Barnes Foundation (1940)
Died in West Chester, Pennsylvania

Why he might be annoying:

He had no formal training in art whatsoever when he first started painting.
He stopped going to school at age 15.
Of all the illustrated journals he drew while in the trenches during World War I, only six drawings survived.
He died just as he became famous nation-wide.

Why he might not be annoying:

He showed an aptitude in art at an early age, winning an art supply company’s advertising contest and getting a set of crayons and watercolors as a result.
To be fair, the reason he stopped going to school was because his mother was ailing.
His right arm was severely crippled after he was shot by a sniper during World War I.
He took up painting in order to help regain the use of his right arm.
His paintings help viewers catch a glimpse of the history and struggle of African-Americans, particularly the cruelty of slavery and discrimination as well as scenes of everyday life.
Alain Locke called him a ‘real genius’ for ‘combining artistic talent with folk quality to the point that it challenges classification’. (1947)

Credit: Big Lenny

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• 20th Century Painters
• Big Lenny's Profiles [Series 03]
• I Did Not Graduate High School [N-S]
• I Died in 1946 (Ranked: 58)
• I Died in the City I Was Born In
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• Painters
• Profiles 34001-34250 (Ranked: 34065)
• Served in World War I
• Shares Washington's Birthday [February 22nd] (Ranked: 1888)

Year In Review:

In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 17 Votes: 47.06% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 48 Votes: 50.0% Annoying