about To Parents One Had to Hurt from the Rilke Portfolio

This lithograph is from the Rilke Portfolio by Ben Shahn, which is the artist’s response to the work of Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926).

Like many poets of the time, Rilke’s work focused on the sublime of nature and the solace and perfection found through religious practices. Shahn captures the sorrowful nature of this poetry through his prints, all of which are signed in the plate.