John Biggers
The Stream Crosses the Path

The Stream Crosses the Path

© John T. Biggers Estate / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY, Estate Represented by Michael Rosenfeld Gallery

The Stream Crosses the Path
The Stream Crosses the Path
ArtistAmerican, 1924–2001
CultureAmerican
Titles
  • The Stream Crosses the Path
Date1961
PlaceHouston, Texas, United States
MediumOil and tempera on panel
Dimensions40 × 60 in. (101.6 × 152.4 cm)
Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Mandell
Object number94.723
Current Location
The Caroline Wiess Law Building
200 Brown Gallery
Exposé

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Object Type
Description






In 1957 John Biggers traveled to West Africa on a study tour sponsored by UNESCO. A pioneer among painters researching the African roots of African-American culture, he became a champion of a global awareness that gained increasing currency over the following decade. The Stream Crosses the Path takes its title from traditional Ashanti talking drum verses, which describe the origins of creation as a stream, which ultimately connects all walks of life and the living with their ancestors.








ProvenanceThe artist; purchased by Arthur J. Mandell, Houston; given to MFAH, 1994.

Exhibition History"African-American Art in the Collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, February 22–May 9, 2004.

City of Houston Mayor's Office, April 26, 2006–December 22, 2009.

"Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, June 27–August 30, 2020.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
The signature and date is on front face, in the tapestry in the foreground “J. Biggers,61”, bottom right.

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

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