The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of June 10, 2026

A horizontally oriented, predominantly dark-toned charcoal drawing depicts seven figures with dark skin tones looking toward a brilliant white light breaking through thick clouds in the upper right. Soft, smudged strokes create high contrast. On our left, three figures cluster together. Near the center, a seated figure is seen from behind while another stands with a raised arm. Two more huddle on our right. A signature is visible on the cream-colored border below.

Glory Be!

c. 1941–42

Dox Thrash

(American, 1892–1965)
America
graphite on paper, incised for transfer
Sheet: 20.3 x 28.9 cm (8 x 11 3/8 in.)
Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland 2023.195.2
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

Incised lines (cuts through the paper with a needle or stylus) can be observed throughout this drawing and are most visible legs of the man standing and gesturing upward at center left.

Description

This work is a final preparatory design for the carborundum mezzotint print by the artist Dox Thrash, also in the CMA’s collection (2023.195.1). Using graphite, the artist delineated and modeled the group of figures who gesture expressively and look upwards, sharing a state of rapture or ecstasy at the sight of parting skies and rays of light above. Thrash often portrayed African American spiritualism, which he knew from his childhood in the rural south and professional career in Philadelphia. The drawing was incised, or cut through, along the contour lines to transfer the lines of the composition to Thrash’s printing plate.
  • {{cite web|title=Glory Be!|url=false|author=Dox Thrash|year=c. 1941–42|access-date=10 June 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2023.195.2