Early Modern Era - African American Arts
Early Modern Era - The African American Impact
The Early Modern Era introduced a modern view of the arts. Art started to become more realistic and was very representative of things everyone around the globe was experiencing. The Great Depression, WWI, and the influence of African Americans. African Americans gave us the Harlem Renaissance, which paved the way to the Civil Rights Movement, as well as fighting for equality for all races (History, 2009). This carved just the beginning of the African American influence in this Era.
Aspects of Negro Life: From Slavery to Reconstruction by Aaron Douglas
Made in 1934 in New York, Aaron Douglas was one of many to begin and raise awareness of the Harlem Renaissance. He was quite popular for his art including painting and drawings. This art, in particular, shows us the stages of history for African Americans. Using contrasts (light and dark for shadows), shapes (circles to bring attention to certain aspects), and line work (for the shadows and buildings in the background). This was a multi-paneled mural made to show all the history in one piece. We can see the bits of cotton and some people holding baskets, representing slavery (Samms, 2024). To the shadows who seem to be excitedly moving their limbs to express happiness and relief for equality made through the civil rights movement. I think this is a very representative piece for this Era. Showing how we as a community have made progress in equality for all. I find this piece emotional but also minimalist and up to the imagination in aspects. Since the shadows lack facial expressions. I have fun trying to imagine the faces of different shadows and the feelings they may be experiencing.
Blues, by Archibald Motley
This painting was made in 1929, also in New York, Samms made the comment on History.com "he was deeply in dialogue with the artistic, literary and cultural scene in Harlem," (Samms, 2024). Jazz was one of the many contributions African Americans made to art and history. Archibald was very much into the jazz culture and music (Samms, 2024). This is reflected in many pieces of his art. Using shapes (for abstract shapes), colors (also abstract), and line work (of course, for abstract). In my opinion, he can give us a sense of happiness but also ease and peace for black communities feeling at home in a well-known art and representation being made. This helped provoke pride and community within the black communities in America.
Gamin, by Augusta Savage
Augusta, although I did show her sculpture Gamin made in 1929, in New York. I would like to go into why she was so significant during the Harlem Renaissance. She is the embodiment of a "Girl Boss". She defied all odds to make it through art school. After art school, she went on to support several projects and gave to the community by sharing her time and experience in art with the younger generation of new artists. She was so passionate about her work that not only did she make the best of the hand she was dealt, but she also made a huge impression on the black community, she gave young African Americans the ability to feel connected to their culture and feel represented in a world of primarily white artists and scholars (Samms, 2024). Just from the photo above, she uses lines and a deep-colored medium to create the contrast of black skin being represented in a sculpture. She gave this sculpture black characteristics, and this brought representation of the black community to the arts. Whereas if we take a look back in time, most art was focused on white people and white characteristics as they were viewed as "more aesthetic". But in my opinion, this work is beautiful and brings emotions of happiness and freedom just knowing all that Savage had done through her life to support the black community.
My Opinion that No One Asked for:
I am such a fan of Harlem Renaissance art. Just knowing how hard a minority was fighting for the same rights that were just handed to me, a white person, brings a rage in me for how many people viewed them as 3/5 of a person when it came to voting, or how we viewed Africans as property for us to use and profit from. Although the history is disturbing. It is quite inspirational all the fights that the black communities have won and continue to fight for equality for everyone. As well as seeing more and more people joining in to make their impact on the movement as well.
Works Cited
“Aspects of Negro Life.” NYPL Digital Collections, digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/634ad849-7832-309e-e040-e00a180639bb.
HISTORY.COM EDITORS. “Harlem Renaissance.” History, A&E Television Networks, 29 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties/harlem-renaissance.
“Renwick Gallery.” Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2019, americanart.si.edu/.
Samms, Gianna. “5 Harlem Renaissance Artists Whose Work Helped Reclaim Black Identity.” HISTORY, 12 Feb. 2024, www.history.com/news/harlem-renaissance-african-american-identity.
It’s really cool to see all the different aspects of art during this time. World wars were being fought, Americans fighting and dying abroad while African Americans were fighting and dying for equality at home. Your first art piece Aspects of Negro Life has the same feel to it as a couple of photos I shared on my blog post. Mobilization by Steinlen has a group of people without much detail all in differing shades of grey. Yet, you feel the emotion and energy of the picture without the specific details. The washed-out colors remind me of the piece I shared called Gassed by Sargent. It has more detail but it's still washed out and vague, but it’s a powerful image.
ReplyDeleteThere is an awesome museum in Kansas City, Missouri called Negro League Baseball Museum. There is a rich history there of photographs, memorabilia, and art around the league. Much of the exhibit starts more around WW2 which is beyond early modern era times, nonetheless, it is cool to see dedicated museums showcasing black artist, sports players, and how they fought to gain equality in America.
Also, if you’re interested in furthering your knowledge of black history, an awesome book I read called The Defender: How the Legendary Black Newspaper Changed America by Ethan Michaeli. It started in Chicago in 1905 and was deeply involved in all aspects of black communities, with some of the biggest names were involved in the paper and its movements throughout the 19000s.
Welcome to NLBM - Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
The Defender: How the Legendary Black Newspaper Changed America: Michaeli, Ethan: 9780547560694: Amazon.com: Books