Named for Oscar Neebe
Date2005
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsCanvas: 29 × 40 inches (73.7 × 101.6 cm)
Portfolio/Series"Named For" series
Credit LineMuseum purchase with funds provided by the William Jay Society.
Object number2005.34
Copyright© Kate Javens.
The images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label TextNamed for Oscar Neebe is part of Kate Javens’ Named For series, a group of works that present animal imagery as metaphorical portraits of American historical figures known for their altruism and capacity for social change. The bison represents Oscar Neebe (1850-1916), a yeast peddler and communist in the late 19th century. A strong advocate for worker’s rights, Neebe was accused of participating in a bombing at Haymarket Square in Chicago that killed one policeman. Despite a lack of evidence, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Javens chose the bison as representative of Neebe because of the typical Americanness and intense herding instinct of the strong and forceful animal. Javens’ minimalist presentation and muted palette of the bison serves to create an almost mystical and romantic atmosphere around the plodding and large beast. In 2008, Javens had a large exhibition of her work in an exhibition titled American Beasts at the Blandon Art Museum in Fort Dodge, IA.
