Boardwalk Religion 1948

Jerome Kaplan's 1948 linocut print, "Boardwalk Religion," depicts a street preacher, arms raised in the air, preaching to a crowd on a boardwalk. The scene is rendered in a stylized, graphic fashion, with bold black and white lines and geometric shapes, reminiscent of the Art Deco style. The composition is dynamic, with the preacher's figure dominating the center and the crowd looking on from the left. In the background, a neon sign with the letter "R" and an oversized "NOW" suggest the commercialism and entertainment that coexisted with the religious fervor of the time. This social commentary piece critiques the superficiality of religious practice in a modern world.