The Harlem Renaissance

Influence of African Americans on Early Modern Art 

Between the end of World War I in 1917 and the start of the Great Depression and the years leading up to World War II in the 1930s, African Americans embarked on a thriving period of cross-disciplinary artistic and cultural activity known as the Harlem Renaissance. 

African Americans had a significant influence on the visual arts produced in the Early Modern Era. It marked the start of the artistic realm where African-American culture served as the primary subject matter for works of art such as paintings, sculptures, and photos. I chose this subject because I believe the influence African Americans had during this era was powerful and uplifting. 


           
 Hayden, Palmer, “Midsummer Night in Harlem,” 1936. The Museum of African-American Art

The purpose of Midsummer Night in Harlem was to represent the community. Through the use of vivid colors and positive facial expressions, this painting conveys the people's energy and optimistic emotions. They're all wearing "Sunday church" attire and smiling. Many are all grins and have very dark skin, large white eyes, and teeth. Everyone is dressed beautifully, with girls and ladies wearing dresses, and men and boys wearing pants and top hats. This painting caused some black Americans to react negatively due to how it depicted their physical characteristics. The vertical line, which guides the viewer's gaze up and down and depicts the action in the image, is the most noticeable line in this piece of art. The church's placement and the way the vertical line connects the moon to the child at the fire hydrant pull my attention to it as the focal point. This expresses the viewers' perspective and demonstrates the use of the moon and the street light directly in front of the church as sources of light. Contrast is used to assist in directing your gaze from the housing complexes to the people and church. A lot of neutral tones with some pops of color are used in this painting, which makes it look so calming.


Joseph Brown Jr., Samuel. "Self-Portrait" 1941

Samuel Joseph Brown, Jr., who worked for the Federal Art Project from 1933 to 1935 and took part in numerous shows during that period, is considered the first African-American artist hired for the program. He attended the Teachers' College of the University of Pennsylvania as well as the Pennsylvania Museum School of Industrial Art. He presents his own image in this piece by using matte materials and flattened forms. He creates an echo chamber of dualities by looking into a mirror while surrounded by the deep blue tonalities of an unclear interior. We see the artist in profile as well as in three-quarter perspective; he looks in the mirror and considers himself, his reflection staring back at us. It appears like he used a lot of blue and purple tones in this painting, alternating with areas of white and light hues. It seems as though he is expressing his personality and traits through this painting, as the tones he chose complemented the style he was painting with. This painting makes me feel brave and makes me think that the artist was so strong and vulnerable. 


Douglas, Aaron. "Aspiration" 1936. de Young Museum, San Francisco.

Aspiration was made for the 1936 Texas Centennial, which rejects European claims to Egypt's historical heritage by expressing the artist's belief in a connection between African/Egyptian and African-American traditions. This artwork illustrates several transitions, including the victory of freedom over prejudice and oppression, as well as the movements from agricultural labor in the South to industrial labor in the North. 

The standing and sitting figures serve as one illustration of this. Inspired by modern art, especially Cubism, he used a bright and creative graphic approach to illustrate African subjects. He also incorporated jazz rhythms into his compositions, giving his picture a further nod to African-American culture. Instead of utilizing a wide variety of colors, he employed radiating beams and concentric circles as compositional components and shapes to produce dramatic focus points and lively movement. His paintings' tales were strengthened by these abstract elements, which increased their emotional impact. He used dark and vibrant hues of purple and blue, along with sections of yellow and pale colors. Just as with the other painting, this makes me value what this artist painted. There's so much meaning behind this art piece, I just want to value and respect it.


Palmer C. Hayden (2019) WEST HARLEM ART FUND. https://westharlem.art/2019/01/24/palmer-c-hayden/ Accessed 3 November 2023

Brown, S.J. Samuel Joseph Brown, Jr. "Self-portrait" The Metropolitan Museum of Art. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/488109 Accessed 3 November 2023

Comments

  1. I really enjoy viewing art from the Harlem Renaissance. It's the first time African Americans were able to make their mark in the art world, and it really stands out as a style. "Aspiration" is such a gorgeous piece, I love the use of colors in the work and the shapes throughout. It is very much what you think of when you imagine art from the Harlem Renaissance and gives weight to the style's name. Even though the figures are flat in appearance, there is still so much depth and personality to each one. You can really feel the power in this piece.

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