Let the Good Times Roll...

As we follow the progress of Art throughout the centuries, we have mainly been ensconced in Europe and its heavily white influences. Now, with the dawn of a new era in the early 1900s to 1930s, we finally see a splash of color and culture added to the Early Modern palate. The heavy influence here, comes from the African Americans, and their cultural hotspot in New York, which came to be known as the Harlem Renaissance. Such artists as Jacob Lawrence, Aaron Douglas, and Archibald Motley emerged into an artistic scene previously dominated by white people. Daring and bold color combinations and striking patterns confronted the eyes of 'conventional art', and also paid tribute to pioneers of the modernization of art such as Picasso, and VanGogh.

"Spanning the 1920s to the mid-1930s, the Harlem Renaissance [...] kindled a new black cultural identity. Its essence was summed up by critic and teacher Alain Locke in 1926 when he declared that through art, “Negro life is seizing its first chances for group expression and self determination.” Harlem became the center of a “spiritual coming of age” in which Locke’s “New Negro” transformed “social disillusionment to race pride.” Chiefly literary, the Renaissance included the visual arts but excluded jazz, despite its parallel emergence as a black art form." (1)

"The Ironers" Jacob Lawrence C. 1943

The use of color in Lawrence's "The Ironers" is a breath of fresh air after the hundreds of years of stiff portraits of aristocrats and their feathered and bejeweled cohorts. This painting depicts people in the most basic and casual manner- just doing their work and putting their full effort into it. Pretty much everything in the piece is flat, however the irons are made three dimensional, presumably to accentuate the weight of the objects, both physically and metaphorically. I enjoy it mostly due to the bright values and the sense of movement I get from the posture of the ironing women.

"The Creation" Aaron Douglas C. 1935

In a very different category of style, we have Aaron Douglas, whose works are very defined, with sharp lines separating the shapes, yet areas of translucent overlaps. I would have to say that Douglas's work is certainly up there in my book as far as fine art. I especially love the subject of "The Creation", as it has what is evidently god's hand either reaching down or drawing back from the sole man as he watches. There are many layers to the piece that give it not only depth but a sense of mystique.  His style jumped out at me right away. I enjoy the play between simplicity and complexity that it presents to the viewer. "Douglas was heavily influenced by the African culture he painted for. His natural talent plus his newly acquired inspiration allowed Douglas to be considered the "Father of African American arts." That title led him to say," Do not call me the Father of African American Arts, for I am just a son of Africa, and paint for what inspires me.""(2)

"The Picnic" Archibald Motley C. 1936

More different still, the works of Archibald Motley are a testament to the social scene of the Harlem Renaissance during that time. His pieces ooze chaos, commotion, pleasure, hustle& bustle, and charisma. His style reflected not only the physical environment, but the social environment as well. 

"Motley was incredibly interested in skin tone, and did numerous portraits documenting women of varying blood quantities ("octoroon," "quadroon," "mulatto"). These portraits celebrate skin tone as something diverse, inclusive, and pluralistic. The also demonstrate an understanding that these categorizations become synonymous with public identity and influence one's opportunities in life. It is often difficult if not impossible to tell what kind of racial mixture the subject has without referring to the title. These physical markers of blackness, then, are unstable and unreliable, and Motley exposed that difference."(3)

I personally like the forms that Motley creates. They are loose, relaxed, and seem to be at ease. His use of a different perspective also appeals to me, for example in "The Picnic" (above) he oriented everything diagonally, and it gives the painting a feeling of a real party, which is loud, slightly disorganized, free from inhibitions and lively.

"Embracing literary, musical, theatrical, and visual arts, participants sought to reconceptualize “the Negro” apart from the white stereotypes that had influenced black peoples’ relationship to their heritage and to each other. They also sought to break free of Victorian moral values and bourgeois shame about aspects of their lives that might, as seen by whites, reinforce racist beliefs." (4) 

Without the influence of African Americans and their Nubian cultural ties, as well as their penchant for fun, fine art, and self expression, art would be in a rather boring state today. 

(1) "Harlem Renaissance." History.com. A&E Television Networks. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.

(2) "Aaron Douglas." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 June 2014. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.

(3) "Archibald J. Motley Jr. | American Icons | Area of Design." Archibald J. Motley Jr. | American Icons | Area of Design. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.

(4) Hutchinson, George. "Harlem Renaissance (American Literature and Art)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.