The Early Modern Era - The Harlem Renaissance
Harlem in the 1920s was a spot unlike any other place in America. I find the Harlem Renaissance is a fundamental part of history and crucial to the African American culture; this part of the modern era is exceptionally wonderful—the visual arts of black culture. The artists of this time were admirable and talented. Lois Mailon Jones is a well-known artist during the Harlem Renaissance. Jones attended the School of Museum of Fine Art in Boston. When she attended, it was during the time of discrimination against African Americans. Jones still prevailed as an artist with the barriers of discrimination and prejudice. In 1938 Lois Mailon Jones painted Les Fetiches. This painting consists of five overlapping masks from African tribes conveying a mysterious spiritual dimension of ritual dance. The vivid red color and multiple masks suggest that Jones was drawing an illustration representing protection and strength for her cultural heritage in the face of discrimination and prejudice. I enjoy the layout of the masks in this painting. What stands out the most is the use of lighting. Each mask in this painting has a different light source. The various light sources add depth to the painting. It's unique, and I enjoy the meaning behind the painting.
Jacob Lawrence was an influential artist from the Harlem Renaissance, and he grew up in Harlem during the flourishment of the African American artistic lifestyle. Lawrence's painting style was both figural and abstract. He painted in series to tell a story about black people's history, accomplishments, and struggles. He gained fame for his powerful paintings of the lives of historical figures like Harriet Tubman. Daybreak — A Time to Rest illustrates Harriet Tubman's courage. In the painting, Harriet Tubman is resting on the ground and holding a rifle, ready to protect the ones she is helping. The exaggerated perspective that makes her feet gigantic in the painting indicates the arduous journeys she made. Forming a crescent above Tubman's head, a man, and a woman with a baby is huddle together, resting on the journey to freedom. The three insects in the painting signal activity at daybreak on the large green leaves in the foreground. Lawrence's painting subjects are valuable and have a lot of meaning behind them. The painting style of Daybreak — A Time to Rest is unique and is an eye catcher. The exaggerated and disproportioned feet and the unusual perspective to indicate the long journey taken to help slaves to freedom is why I appreciate this piece of his. I also love the vivid colors used and the abstract style of painting.
William H. Johnson is not as well known as the above artists Jacob Lawrence and Lois Mailon Jones. Still, he was a significant contributor to the Harlem Renaissance and the black artistic achievement. Johnson's art career went on for five decades, and his art style shifted from landscapes to African American folk art. Johnson painted four jitterbug paintings. The Jitterbug was a dance craze that came out of Harlem. This dance eventually made its way into America's "swing" culture just before the Second World War. This painting is an excellent representation of what came out of the Harlem Renaissance: Representing dance, music, and African American culture. I think William H. Johnson's style is fun, and I love folk style art. The colors in this painting are vibrant, and the mixed patterns create a fun atmosphere. This painting is delightful to look at.
Jones, Loïs Mailou. “Les Fétiches.” Smithsonian American Art Museum, https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/les-fetiches-31947.
Johnson, William H. “Jitterbugs (II).” Smithsonian American Art Museum, https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/jitterbugs-ii-11777.
“Permanent Collection: Jacob Lawrence's Daybreak - A Time to Rest.” DCist, 28 Oct. 2018, https://dcist.com/story/10/11/23/permanent-collection-jacob-lawrence/.
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