103 / 196
175
●
ALLEN SAALBURG.
Archive of set designs for “The Green Pastures.”Together, 22 designs for the 1936Warner
Brother’s feature film, starring an all black cast that brings to life Bible stories through
the lens of deeply rooted Southern culture. Gouache on board. Sizes vary with the largest
measuring 381x559 mm; 15x22 inches. One signed,Warner Brother’s label on matte of
one, many captioned on matte or on verso. Occasional dustsoiling and foxing. Most
mounted to original mattes.
[6,000/9,000]
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by director Marc Connelly, “The Green Pastures,” was
an attempt to introduce the importance of oral traditions and biblical narratives of Southern African-
American culture to the rest of America.The opening passage states, “Negroes in the Deep South
visualize God and Heaven in terms of people and things they know in their everyday life.”The
film begins with the Reverend of a children’s Sunday school class whose preferred method of pedagogy
is to situate Bible stories within the context of relatable characters from their community. From there,
the film launches into whimsical interpretations of important Bible stories, beginning with a jolly
fish fry in Heaven, the creation of Adam, a thunderous Exodus scene, among others—often
accompanied by a choir of angels singing traditional Southern spirituals.
[
CONTINUED ON FOLD
]
●
L E SAA BUR .
Archive f set esigns for “ e Green ast res.”Toget er, desig s for t e 19 6War er
Br ther’s feature fil , starri g an a l blac cast t at rings t life ible stories thr ug
t e le s f dee ly r te
t ern c lture. ouache o board. Sizes vary ith the largest
measuri g 1x m; x 2 i ches.
e signed,Warner Brother’s label a te f
o e, a y captio ed n atte r on verso. Occasional dustsoiling a f i g.
st
te t rigi al a tes.
[ ,
, ]
Based on the Pulit er Pri e- inning play by director Marc onne ly, “ he Green Pastures,” was
an attempt to introduce the importance of oral traditions and biblical narratives of outhern African-
American culture to the rest of A erica.The opening passage states, Negroes in the eep South
visualize God and Heaven in terms of people and things they know in their everyday life.”The
film begins with the everend of a children’s unday school cla s hose preferred ethod of pedagogy
is to situate Bible stories within the context of relatable characters from their community. ro there,
the film launches into himsical interpretations of i portant Bible stories, beginning with a jo ly
fish fry in Heaven, the creation of Adam, a thunderous Exodus scene, a ong others often
a co panied by a choir of angels singing traditional outhern spirituals.
[
I
E
F L
]
175
●
ALLEN SAALBURG.
Archive of set designs for “The Green Pastures.”Together, 22 designs for the 1936Warner
Brother’s feature film, starring an all black cast that brings to life Bible stories through
the lens of deeply rooted Southern culture. Gouache on board. Sizes vary with the largest
measuring 381x559 mm; 15x22 inches. One signed,Warner Brother’s label on matte of
one, many captioned on matte or on verso. Occasional dustsoiling and foxing. Most
mounted to original mattes.
[6,000/9,000]
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by director Marc Connelly, “The Green Pastures,” was
an attempt to introduce the importance of oral traditions and biblical narratives of Southern African-
American culture to the rest of America.The opening passage states, “Negroes in the Deep South
visualize God and Heaven in terms of people and things they know in their everyday life.”The
film begins with the Reverend of a children’s Sunday school class whose preferred method of pedagogy
is to situate Bible stories within the context of relatable characters from their community. From there,
the film launches into whimsical interpretations of important Bible stories, beginning with a jolly
fish fry in Heaven, the creation of Adam, a thunderous Exodus scene, among others—often
accompanied by a choir of angels singing traditional Southern spirituals.
[
CONTINUED ON FOLD
]