636. Hale Woodruff / Earl M. Washington “Hanged Black Man at his Doorstep”, c. 1940; linoleum cut print, 8" x 5.5", executed by Woodruff and printed by Washington, signed in pencil by Washington (“sc”). It is unclear why this print is signed by Washington, because it is known to have been Woodruff’s artwork. We do know that Washington had a printing business and worked with numerous artists in the first quarter of the 20th century, and it is possible that Washington retained Woodruff’s original block and printed them later. The “sc” would normally be used for the engraver who makes a print from a painting someone else did, but that is not the case here, where we know Woodruff actually made blockprints himself. What is certain is that Woodruff, an important African-American artist, designed this work (it is illustrated in A Shared Heritage: Art by Four African-Americans), and that the imagery is profoundly important to American history. 600-800