Artist's Depiction of Emmett Till's Open Casket Sparks Controversy at Whitney Biennial

The recently-opened Whitney Biennial features dozens of works that tackle tough themes including race and identity.

But one painting this year is drawing a lot of attention.

"Open Casket" is Dana Schutz's depiction of an iconic photograph that is a centerpiece of the Civil Rights movement. The photo shows the open casket of 14-year-old Emmett Till, who was horribly mutilated and killed after being accused of flirting with a white woman in Mississippi in 1955. The woman, Carolyn Bryant Donham, recently recanted her accusations, as revealed in the book The Blood of Emmett Till, by Timothy Tyson.

The painting by Schutz, a white artist who works in Brooklyn, has sparked protests at the Whitney, including an open letter calling for its destruction. It's also sparked questions about artists' and curators' rights and responsibilities in handling racially-charged subject matter.