Mardi Gras
1946
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
lithograph
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1948.11.26
Art Historical Context
Alfred Bendiner’s 1946 lithograph *Mardi Gras* captures the lively spirit of carnival celebration through the expressive possibilities of printmaking. Created just after World War II, the work reflects a moment when Americans sought joy and communal festivity, using bold lines and rich tonal contrasts typical of lithography to convey movement and atmosphere. Bendiner, known for his keen observations of urban life and public events, translates the energy of masked revelers and street parades into an accessible printed image. Lithography was especially valued in the mid-twentieth century for it...
About the Artist
Alfred Bendiner
Alfred Bendiner (July 23, 1899 – March 19, 1964) was a Philadelphia-based architect, artist, caricaturist, and writer whose career demonstrated a rare synthesis of technical precision and wit. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Hungarian immigrant parents, Bendiner moved with his family to Philadelphia, where he attended the Pennsylvania Museum School of Industrial Arts before serving in the mil...