Wade in the Water II
- Measures 24x36 inches. Signed and numbered limited edition lithograph from an edition of 3,500, printed on archival acid free paper
- Original artwork by Ted Ellis, the self taught New Orleans painter whose African American themed work has reached collectors nationwide
- Depicts a traditional Southern river baptism, a scene of faith, family, and community rooted in Black church tradition
- Named for the spiritual "Wade in the Water," carried from slavery through the civil rights movement
- A meaningful gift for pastors, deacons, church anniversaries, ushers, mothers boards, and anyone raised in the Black church
A wooden footbridge stretches across a slow country creek, and the whole church is standing on it. Women in white, men in dark suits, parasols tilted against the morning light. Below them, waist-deep in the water, the minister lifts his hand while a candidate waits to go under. This is Sunday morning in the rural South, and Ted Ellis painted it the way it was lived.
Wade in the Water II holds a moment that generations of Black families know by heart. Before there were baptismal pools behind the pulpit, there were creeks and rivers, and the congregation walked out to meet them dressed in their finest. Ellis renders the scene in soft, broken brushwork, letting the trees blur into green, and the water hold a mirrored reflection of the crowd above. The color story is warm and unhurried: rust and cream, dark suits, white robes, a sky opening up over the treeline. Every figure on that bridge is a witness, and that is the heart of the painting. Faith here is a public act, held up by the community.
The spiritual that gives this painting its name was born among enslaved African Americans in the antebellum South and first appeared in print in 1901, in a collection of songs performed by the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Its refrain draws on the Gospel of John, and the healing pool at Bethesda, where the waters were troubled by an angel, and its verses reach back to the Jordan and the Red Sea. Oral tradition also holds that the song carried coded guidance for freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad, instructing them to travel by water so tracking dogs could not follow their scent. Historians debate that claim, but what is well documented is the song's long life at riverside baptisms, and its return during the civil rights movement as a freedom song sung in mass meetings across the South.
Ted Ellis, born in New Orleans in 1963, is a self-taught painter and former environmental chemist whose work blends folk art, naturalism, and impressionism. He has built his career documenting American life through an African American lens, from jazz clubs and church houses to the civil rights era and the presidency of Barack Obama. His portrait of the 44th President was presented in honor of the 2009 inauguration. Ellis has sold well over a million works, and his paintings hang in homes, universities, and corporate collections across the country.
Bring Wade in the Water II home and keep that morning close. Add this signed and numbered limited edition to your collection today.
| Cert. Of Authenticity | Ships with a certificate of authenticity from the artist. |
| Edition | Limited Edition |
| Edition Size | 3500 |
| Framed | Unframed |
| Height | 24 inches |
| Length | 36 inches |
| Medium | Paper |
| SKU | ellis-wade2 |
Ted Ellis
Ted Ellis is a passionate man. He is passionate about his family… passionate about his heritage and passionate about his art. Just ask him and he proudly declares, "I paint Subjects that are representative of the many facets of American life as I know it. I like to think of myself as a creative historian. I was put here to record history…all aspects of American culture and heritage. My sole purpose has always been to educate through my art." Ellis grew up and was educated in New Orleans, a city known for its history, style, and artistic exuberance. This backdrop inspired Ellis to capture the essence of the subjects of his childhood in the glory of their rich cultural heritage. Extremely dedicated to his craft, this artist draws on a style that was born in his childhood from impressions of his native city. Ellis is self-taught and boldly blends realism and impressionism in his work, evoking nostalgia and inspiration. The art of this man both reveres and celebrates the traditional values of his culture. Ted Ellis, the man, lives the life he paints about.Limited edition artwork ships in 0 to 14 business days depending upon the artwork, artist and medium. All limited editions ship signed and numbered and with a certificate of authenticity from the artist. When a limited edition work of art is purchased a member of our team will contact you within 1 to 3 business days to provide you with a shipping timeline. Some limited editions are not eligible for expedited shipping. For additional information please visit our: Special Note About Limited Editions
