2. Though the ages, African American art has been a profound push in the artwork
community. Not simply inspiring the world with plentiful masterpieces, but also
inspiring culture and self freedom.The firstArtist we will look at is KaraWalker,
known for her contemporary art style influenced by race, gender, sexuality,
violence and identity. She does this through a common theme of silhouettes,
where black contrasting figures appear as enigmic icons for the community.This is
scene as poverty vs wealth, male vs female, and even white and black.The
recurring theme of fighting forces remains abundant in her work.
The Second artist we will look isAaron Douglas (1899-1979). Who focused on the
Harlem Renaissance as his primary inspiration. He had a strong use of African
design which peaked the interest of many critics looking for African heritage in
art. Similar to Kara walker his artworks shared a similar style in Silhouettes with
strong contrasting background.Though Douglas's work focused not on the
cultural difference and aggression of African American culture, but the love and
spirit of their livelihood. Many of his work was filled with dance, bright colors and
cultural history as African culture transferred across the seas. His work
exemplified power and the hope of spirituality.
3. KaraWalker – Untiled
(Hunting Season)
2001
Kara Walker vastly known for her
silhouette works used black cut
outs to exemplify middle and
upper class systems. Here she
reached to identify racist
paraphernalia and the various
versions of middle class
Americans. Forwardly the title
hunting season gives of a sinister
approach of the wealthy preying
on the poor.
4. KaraWalker
Negress Notes
1996
In Kara Walker’s earlier work
silhouette were strong in her
work but not singled without
color and detail. In this piece
Negress Notes, she is
interpreting racial
discrimination. In her own words
“It is grotesque as projecting
one’s ugly soul onto another’s
pretty body” (Kara Walker).
Forwardly thinking, no matter
the age African American’s
where taking in the ugly
thoughts of a culturally
discriminated community
5. KaraWalker
Burn
1998
This piece seems to cover the
simplicity of Kara Walker’s
silhouette pieces. In appearance
it covers the cultural stigma of
early African American culture.
Outwardly we are destroying
ourselves. Burning our society
with the aggression and violence
that articulates our nation. Key
details in the cloud of smoke.
The slight silhouettes of a
human face and cityscape.
Perhaps African American
culture are identified in the
smoke cloud.They are the ash
that will remain to leave a mark
on the world.
6. A more unique style of her
silhouettes include a offset
lithograph, screen-print on
paper.This artwork is one of a
series all encompassing a
primary focus of the Civil war
and other historical events. She
would place her silhouettes on
these historical settings bringing
the war to a more public
appearance. Slavery was a
strong suite in the Civil war,
forever living within the African
American community. Kara
Walker wish to bring attention to
the history in a unique way.
KaraWalker
Harper’s Pictorial History ofCivilWar (Annotated)
2005
7. KaraWalker
NoWorld
1996
One of Kara Walker’s few
etchings, foresees a sense of
horror. It mediates the trade and
ocean voyage of slavery. It is the
first of several artworks
representing the opening act of
the sorrows to come. Dark
shadowy hands appear to have a
grim approach, It carries the ship
towards a small crowd of people.
The dark silhouette in the water,
appears in a drowning pose, with
nothing left but despair in her
future.
8. First mural in the series Aspects
of Negro Life.The mural reflects
a timeline of African culture
fusing with American
counterpart and the struggler to
find their place in it. Here in this
piece, a man and woman from
Africa dance to the excitement
of singing and drums. A
ritualistic and warm setting
emphasized by rays of light.
With the strong suggestion of
African spirits from the sigil
above their heads.
Aaron Douglas
Negro in AfricanSetting (Aspects of Negro Life)
1934
9. Second of a series of 4 oil
paintings. Song ofTowers
examples a man resisting the
hand of service. It describes the
environmental change of African
Americans after World war 1.
From the South to the industrial
and booming culture of the
north.The notable saxophone
represents the explosion in
creativity and the fight to be
spoken and to be heard.
Aaaron Dougless
Song ofTowers (Aspes of Negro Life)
1966
10. From slavery to Reconstruction
Douglas seeks to identify the
role of African Americans.This is
theThird in the series of 4 in his
mural Aspects of Negro Life after
Song ofTowers. It seeks to
exemplify the ideas of the
Harlem Renaissance. In this
piece its easy to notice the
mixed culture.The jazz and
music aspects of the
Renaissance with the African
heritage culture through the
plants, dancers, and
environmental background.
Aaron Douglas
From Slavery to Reconstruction (Aspects of Negro Life)
1934
11. Fourth mural of Aspects of Negro
Life.This piece creates an
illusionary theme of Africans in
plantation fields in the south.
The illusion is scene by the
creation of happiness and
cheerful dancing.The workers
on the right suffer the aftermath
of lynching from the fields.A
more surprising aspect comes
from the red star in the center,
prominently reflecting the red
star of communism.Aaron noted
it illustrated the hope that
harmony could be achieved
through political communism or
socialism.
Aaron Douglas
An Idyll of the Deep South (Aspects of Negro Life)
1930’s
12. Aspiration serves as one of the
most iconic pieces of his work. It
circulates the primary aspect
and belief underlining Douglas’s
art. In Aspiration Douglas seeks
to connect historical slavery of
Egyptians and African
Americans.Their progression as
both cultures break the shackles
of slaves.Their rise and fall and
transition to mixed cultures.The
North star rests in the center
which served as a guide for
African Americans in the civil
war.
Aaron Douglas
Aspirations
1997
