Art and African American Influence

 In 1918 African Americans migrated by the thousands to northern states in hopes to escape the servitude and discrimination, this is known as the great migration. While many found themselves in Detroit or Chicago, a large amount of black individuals and artists made Harlem, New York their home. Harlem became cultural hotspot that would influence art, literature, theatre and music to this day. With this newfound freedom, African Americans were able to choose their career (of course the glass ceiling that systemic racism provides still limited that) and express their creativity, emotions and thoughts on their feelings about slavery and equal rights. 

These experiences undoubtedly shaped the art that came from this new cultural explosion of new art, music, poetry and style from African American artists, musicians and poets. Art was seen as an opportunity for African Americans to control their own narrative. After being portrayed as only being useful for labor, African Americans were free to showcase their creativity and skill breaking that one dimensional view of them. 

Here is an oil on plywood painting done by William Johnson in 1838 entitled, "Chain Gang."

It is speculated that this painting may have been inspired from Johnson's previous work as an archivist with the Works Progress Administration, or a memory of his during his childhood when Jim Crow laws were legal. Either way this painting is a clear outcry against the systematic oppression of black people. The men in the painting are prisoners, but being used as laborers in chains. This abuse has been systematically implemented in African Americans lives since being torn from their home and forced into slavery by colonists. 

William Johnson had studied Art in Europe as an adult, he lived in Europe for almost 20 years and returned to America before the start of WW2. This piece was made during this time frame, so you can imagine the intention and emotion that he would like the viewers to get from this piece. He also may have been connecting back with what it means to him to be African American or reflecting back on past experiences.

 The bold colors really give that shock factor and highlight the bold message behind the painting. The colors used are flat and 2 dimensional. I can see the influence of the Avant garte movement in the distortion of the bodies of these men. The hands and feet are very large and out of proportion with the body. The bending of the figures backs and limbs is exaggerated. 

Looking at how the man in the front has his shovel down and the man behind him has his pick ax held up reminds me of in films, how slaves sang and swung their tools to the rhythm of the song. Similarly this painting gives off that sort of rhythm.

Aaron Douglas is known as the father of African American art. Below is a oil on canvas created by Douglas in 1936 entitled "Into Bondage." It was one of four canvas' that he made for the lobby of the Hall of Negro life in the 1936 Texas Centennial exposition. The Hall of Negro Life was the first celebration of Black culture by a worlds fair in the United States. It was also dedicated to celebrate Juneteenth, the anniversary of the date that African Americans were freed.

The focus of this painting is on the boats sailing into the distance, and from which light is radiating off of. This image is heartbreaking, but has this light beam of optimism and hope. The men off in the distance, closest to the water, their heads hang low in knowing what's coming, yet the man in the front holds his head up high as if he is portraying his resilience. 

I enjoy the influence of cubism in this art piece, the man in the front and middle of the page is two dimensional at first glance, however after some inspection, the different shades of color give him a three dimensional appearance.

These figures are shackled and the woman on the right holds her hands up likely feeling hopeless. One thing that I thought of was the particular sense of danger for women. If women are not considered equal to men in their own race, you can imagine the injustices that African American woman who were enslaved had to endure. Her hands are held up, I cant help but wonder if only her hands are being held up as a sign to show mercy on her. 

The layered motifs give this piece depth and the colors seem very balanced and in some areas you cant really tell where one color begins and the other ends. The bright orange shackles stand out from the cool blue, green and brown palate. 

Lastly I have included an oil on linen painting entitled, "Les Fetiches" by Lois Mailou Jones in 1938. 

Jones created this art piece that features five traditional African masks dancing around rhythmically. This may have been her, a black woman reconnecting to her roots and African culture. It is speculated that this was an effort from Jones to use her cultural heritage as a place to draw strength in in the face of discrimination. 

The masks are very mysterious and ominous. The mask in the front kind of looks feminine to me. The lines surrounding it remind me of curly hair. There is also some lines around that mask that suggest movement or transformation. 

The intense black color in the background suggest that these masks are floating in the air. The different shades of color used in the masks highlight and shade different areas bringing some qualities out and pushing some back. I love the mask in the front. The abstraction in the face of the mask compliment the face and follow the facial structure. 

The hints of bold color and against the black background and the exaggerated facial expressions of the masks all bring a mood that is very unapologetic and in your face. 

References:

The Smithsonian Art Museum. https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/chain-gang-11598

Office of Arts and Culture. City of Dallas. https://dallasculture.org/1936hallofnegrolife/

Smithsonian Art Museum. (2006). https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/les-fetiches-31947