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Congratulations on Every Section of Fence Ever Pulled or Cut Down, on Every Minute in Police Custody, on Every Day in Prison. (Worsted Weight Yarn)

Ellen Lesperance

Congratulations on Every Section of Fence Ever Pulled or Cut Down, on Every Minute in Police Custody, on Every Day in Prison. (Worsted Weight Yarn)

2019

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Ellen Lesperance

Congratulations on Every Section of Fence Ever Pulled or Cut Down, on Every Minute in Police Custody, on Every Day in Prison. (Worsted Weight Yarn)

2019

Physical Qualities Opaque watercolor and graphite on tea-stained paper, 42 × 29 1/2 in. (106.7 × 74.9 cm.) Framed: 47 7/16 × 35 5/16 × 1 1/2 in. (120.5 × 89.7 × 3.8 cm.)
Credit Line Purchase with exchange funds from the Pearlstone Family Fund and partial gift of The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.
Object Number 2019.154
Part of an ongoing series, this painting pays tribute to women of the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp (active 1981–2000) who protested the storage of U.S. nuclear cruise missiles in Berkshire, England. Collecting archival images of women at the camp, Ellen Lesperance translates photos of their handknit sweaters into paintings using Symbolcraft, a symbol-based method of conveying each individual stitch in a specific knitting pattern. Emblazoned at the center of this work is a double-headed axe known as a labrys. Historically linked to matriarchal societies, this symbol was adopted in the 1970s within lesbian communities to herald feminist strength. The work’s title is drawn from a letter addressed to a camper, which Lesperance asserts as “a reminder that there is honor to be given to people who disrupt routine civic life in order to make injustice known.” The artist book nearby tells the story of Lesperance’s research into this activist history and provides additional information to interpret the symbols and images in her paintings.
The Baltimore Museum of Art by purchase, 2019; Derek Eller Gallery
Cecilia Wichmann, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Ellen Lesperance: Velvet Fist," January 26, 2020 to September 20, 2020.

Baltimore Museum of Art, "Crosscurrents: Works from the Contemporary Collection," February 26, 2025 to September 3, 2026; work on view from February 26, 2025 to September 3, 2025.

Artist

Ellen Lesperance

born Minneapolis, MN 1971

Meet Ellen Lesperance

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Ellen Lesperance
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Honoré Daumier
The Chevalier des Adrets is the lover of a woman of the world. He is amiable and fervent, he pretends to be passionate and devoted... one day, an alleged bailiff and an alleged bill of exchange fall like a clap of thunder into the midst of the most tender effusion of feeling... "Oh! My God!! The Baron de Wormspire, a so-called friend, has had the impudence to have me thrown into prison... He's ruined my good fortune, separated me from what I love! Oh! Friends!! What are friends?... There's no such thing as a friend!!!..." The poor woman, poor dupe, casts off her jewels, gives him everything she can, borrows, ruins herself, only to discover too late that her knight is only a knight of industry, a right Robert Macaire.
1838
Hollis Sigler
In the unfolding of life, every minute is precious
1995
Honoré Daumier and Marchandeau
You don't need to remind me of his achievements, every day I have them in front of my eyes
1871
Honoré Daumier, Arnaud de Vresse, and others
Here is a gentleman who comes to fish here every day from morning till evening
1866
Honoré Daumier
My dear, since we won't have enough time to see everything in one day, you should look at the pictures on the right while I'll look at the ones on the left, and when we get home, we'll tell each other everything we saw.
1859
Honoré Daumier
The other day, I pulled off another smart trick... I had set up a firm with a capital of ten million francs to exploit top boots in cardboard ... I had placed only eight shares worth a petty 1200 francs... I called together my eight shareholders and held forth in something like the following manner: "Ah! Good-day ye strolling gentlemen, how handsome you are, how fine you seem!" I promised them more cheese than bread, I gave them a 50% dividend, I warmed them up a bit and let them simmer... The following day they couldn't get hold of my shares fast enough, I placed all of them and at the next meeting I said: "The last time I did the books I made a mistake. I forgot to take into account the price of the cardboard and its fabrication. You must return the dividend I gave you, I'm going to hold it back... I put down nothing and kept back the r
1838
Honoré Daumier
Robert Macaire's boarding school. - Professor, here's my system of education. Have an undemanding curriculum so that study lasts as long as possible, give holidays, receive presents at every possible anniversary, and as for the prices, one should be perfectly impartial... - Quite right! They should only be given to the best pupils. - What! Upset the parents! Oh no! Not at all! Prizes shall be given to everybody. To every man his due!
1837
Honoré Daumier
The ant. The two-legged ant, just like the multi-legged one is not generous, but that is the least one can reproach him. There is one difference though: the former is saving in every season and never consumes, even at the age of 90 he still economises for his old days. This type of ant leads always a miserable life. When he dies, he is deprived of everything despite of the provisions, because his last savings are spent for his funeral.
1838
Honoré Daumier
Education of Achilles. / Stern Chiron spanks pupils each morning / Creates deep feeling scorning / Alas... teachers break our young heads every day / While being themsellves full of fault and dismay! / (The Iliad, philosophical translation by Mr. Patin)
1842