Thomas Hart Benton - Negro Soldier [1942]
Created during World War II, this powerful piece showcases an African American infantryman standing heroically with a bayoneted rifle. It directly challenged Adolf Hitler’s propaganda of a white master race by highlighting the central role and patriotism of Black servicemen. This artwork was created alongside his famous The Year of Peril series, which Benton painted between 1941 and 1943 following the attack on Pearl Harbour to emphasise the threats and sacrifices of the war.
[State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia - Oil and tempera on canvas, 121.9 x 152.4 cm]






























