Ben Shahn was an American artist born in Lithuania in 1898, best known for his works of social realism. He immigrated to the United States with his family in 1906 and later studied at New York University and the National Academy of Design. Shahn gained prominence in the 1930s for his series of paintings about the trial of Sacco and Vanzetti, two Italian immigrants controversially convicted of murder. His art often tackled themes of injustice, inequality, and human rights, capturing the struggles and aspirations of ordinary people.

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Throughout his career, Shahn worked in various mediums, including painting, drawing, photography, and even murals for the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression. His work was not limited to any one form of expression; he was also an illustrator, graphic artist, and commercial artist.