Leonard Baskin

Leonard Baskin is a fundamental figure in 20th-century art, known for his extraordinary versatility as a sculptor, engraver, graphic artist, and founder of the Gehenna Press. Born on August 15, 1922, in New Jersey, Leonard Baskin distinguished himself from a young age for his inclination towards the figurative arts and his unconventional vision, which led him to openly oppose the dominant abstract expressionist movement for much of his career.
Son of a rabbi, Leonard Baskin grew up in an environment that stimulated his reflection on the great themes of life and mortality. These subjects later became central to his artwork. He studied art at the New School for Social Research in New York and at Yale University, where he founded the Gehenna Press in 1942. This fine arts publishing house became a reference point for the production of art books, printing works by authors such as Sylvia Plath, Ted Hughes, James Baldwin, and Anthony Hecht.

The Gehenna Press, founded by Leonard Baskin while he was still a student, remained active until his death in 2000. Taking inspiration from the illustrated books of William Blake, Leonard Baskin decided to learn how to print and create high-quality artistic books. The name of the press comes from a line in John Milton's Paradise Lost, a reference to the "black Gehenna" as a symbol of hell. Over more than five decades, the Gehenna Press produced over 100 works, earning a prominent place in the landscape of art publishing. The printed books often included woodcuts and lithographs that reflected Leonard Baskin's unmistakable style, characterized by a bold use of black and white and a dramatic and grotesque aesthetic.
Leonard Baskin considered himself primarily a sculptor, although he excelled in many other forms of art, including watercolor, painting, and printmaking. His figurative works were distinguished by their ability to tackle deep and complex themes such as mortality, the Holocaust, and social issues.
One of his most monumental sculptures is The Funeral Cortege, a artwork in bronze that adorns the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, DC. This work represents a funeral procession that symbolizes collective mourning and memory. Another significant artwork is the 30-foot bas-relief commissioned for the same memorial, completed in 1994. Leonard Baskin is also remembered for the bronze statue of a seated figure erected in 1994 for the Holocaust Memorial in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The woodcuts and prints by Leonard Baskin were often large in size and depicted human and animal figures in ways that ranged from naturalistic to fantastical. His works are characterized by a grotesque and sometimes unsettling vision, with swollen or deformed figures that represent a deep reflection on the human condition. Despite the predominance of abstract expressionism in the artistic scene of the time, Leonard Baskin remained true to figurative representation, convinced that it was the only means to express the universality and uniqueness of the human being.
Leonard Baskin always declared himself a supporter of the figurative artistic tradition. In a quote taken from the New York Times, he explained: “The human figure is the image of all men and of one man alone. It contains everything and can express everything.” This approach led him to be defined by the New York Times as “Scultore di Stark Memorials,” thanks to his ability to evoke deep emotions through figurative art.
Leonard Baskin collaborated with some of the greatest poets of his time, including Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath. His friendship with Ted Hughes was particularly significant; he illustrated the poetry volume Crow in 1970 and other works such as A Primer of Birds published by Gehenna Press in 1981. Sylvia Plath dedicated the poem “Sculptor” to Leonard Baskin in the collection The Colossus and Other Poems (1960). Among other authors who collaborated with Gehenna Press are James Baldwin, Anthony Hecht and Ruth Fainlight. Their works, paired with Leonard Baskin's engravings, represent a unique blend of art and literature. In 1992, a 50-year retrospective of Gehenna Press books toured the United States, including a major exhibition at the Library of Congress.
In 1974, Leonard Baskin moved with his family to Great Britain to be close to Ted Hughes. During his stay at Lurley Manor, in Devon, he continued to create impactful works and collaborate with internationally renowned artists and poets. After a few years, he returned to the United States in 1984 and taught at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts.
"His works are now preserved in some of the most prestigious public and private collections in the world, including the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York."
Leonard Baskin died on June 3, 2000, leaving an extraordinary artistic legacy. His work continues to inspire generations of artists, printers, and sculptors. His artistic vision, focused on the human figure and the expressive power of the figurative tradition, remains a beacon for anyone who believes in the power of art to address universal themes and profoundly influence individuals.
In an era dominated by abstraction, Leonard Baskin chose to remain true to his ideals, demonstrating that figurative art can be just as revolutionary. Through his monumental sculptures, his artist's books, and his engravings, Leonard Baskin redefined the role of the artist as a chronicler of the human condition. His commitment to art and his dedication to figurative work represent a shining example of how art can be a powerful means to explore and understand humanity in all its facets.