Red-Lining, 1962, #1

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

This is an ink and stenciled work on white paper squares that have been folded and collaged together to form a larger rectangle. A play on the iconic "Checkpoint Charlie" sign at the crossing between East and West Germany in Berlin, the words "YOU ARE ENTERING THE AMERICAN SECTOR" is repeated in English, Russian, French, and German in large black text. The text has an irregular hand-lettered appearance, with the outlines occasionally visible in graphite, black ink, and brown and white crayon, with bits of silver tape appearing throughout. The work is titled, signed and dated in graphite in the bottom right corner: RED-LINING, 1962 #1 Victor H. Sparrow 2022].

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