John Robinson's Paintbrushes

20th Century

These heavily used paintbrushes—featuring paint splotches on the handles and tape to reinforce some of the ferrules—belonged to artist John Robinson. The tools enabled the lifelong D.C. resident, who worked full-time as a cook at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, to escape to his “secret place” where “all the cares and troubles of the day just melt away.” Robinson painted people and places in his Anacostia community, documenting and preserving the history of his neighborhood.