Henry George by George de Forest Brush, George de Forest Brush, 1888

Henry george artist: george de forest brush, 28 sep 1855 - 24 apr 1941 sitter henry george, 2 sep 1839 - 29 oct 1897 date 1888 type painting medium oil on wood dimensions panel: 22. 5 x 20 x 0. 3cm (8 7/8 x 7 7/8 x 1/8") frame: 33. 3 x 30. 5 x 5. 7cm (13 1/8 x 12 x 2 1/4") credit line national portrait gallery, smithsonian institution object number npg. 67. 53 exhibition label "the great american republic must be a republic in fact as well as form," wrote economist henry george. As american industry after the civil war spawned undreamed-of wealth for some and a new and excruciating poverty for others, george became a leading voice in efforts to reform the nation's free-enterprise system. His stinging yet highly popular critique of american capitalism, poverty and progress (1879), described with great eloquence the inequities in modern society. According to george, poverty's root cause lay in ever-rising land values. Levying a heavy "single tax" on those values would, he asserted, undermine monopolies, distribute wealth more evenly, and eliminate poverty. Although george failed in his attempt to win elected office, his writings found widespread support, especially within the burgeoning labor movement. Data source national portrait gallery see more items in national portrait gallery collection exhibition american origins on view npg, east gallery 123. Date: 1888.