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In This Case: African American Artists
February 12, 2009
In This Case is a series of posts on art in the Luce Foundation Center for the Study of American Art at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. This piece was written by Jill Paschal, an intern here at the Luce Center this past year.
The Luce Foundation Center is one of the hidden gems at the American Art Museum if you're looking for opportunities to broaden your knowledge of African-American art. The museum's extensive holdings of African-American art can be seen throughout the galleries—and especially in the Luce Center, where you can find more than forty paintings by the artists Henry Ossawa Tanner, William H. Johnson, Alma Thomas, Hale Woodruff, and Jacob Lawrence. I find myself drawn to these works because while they were all created by people who share a cultural history with me. Each conveys a personal story of the African-American experience through a individual style.
Henry O. Tanner is an artist well known for his paintings of biblical scenes, whereas William H. Johnson and Jacob Lawrence created genre scenes that depict everyday experiences in African-American communities. The paintings of Alma Thomas are heavily influenced by nature and abstract expressionism, whereas Hale Woodruff's work suggests a strong influence from African art and social realism. Each of these artists has a unique perspective that is immediately felt once you stand in front of one of their paintings.
One of my favorite works is William H. Johnson's Art Class. Johnson painted two students sitting at a desk drawing—a scene he took from his own experience as an art teacher in Harlem in New York City. The strong, vibrant, colors and prominent figures are visually captivating. Johnson's candid style of painting creates a sense of nostalgia for anyone who may have enjoyed drawing or painting or even daydreaming in grade school.
Related Program Note: Dr. Walter O. Evans, a major collector of African American art, will be speaking as part of our Collectors' Roundtable series on Collecting Outside the Canon. Tuesday, May 19, 7 p.m. Contact American Art's Public Programs Office at saamprograms@si.edu or (202) 633-8490
- African American Artists, Henry Ossawa, William H. Johnson, Alma Thomas, Hale Woodruff, Jacob Lawrence, Luce Center for American Art, American Art, Smithsonian American Art Museum
Posted by Jeff on February 12, 2009 in American Art Elsewhere, American Art Here
Comments
My name is Rebecca Gilliard, I am from Charleston South Carolina and my family are direct descendants of the West Africa slaves who were brought to South Carolina in the late 1700s. I am one of the artists of the original handmade sweetgrass baskets. I also have some photos cotton fields showing the workers picking cotton.
This is painting is so amazing too see. If you would like to discuss or view my historical baskets, or the photo of the cotton field, then please feel free to e-mail me.
Posted by: Rebecca Gilliard | Mar 6, 2009
Nice to see Henry O. Tanner getting a call out here. His work on scenes inspired by the Bible are quite poignant.
Posted by: Western Art | Mar 25, 2009
I purchased a oil painting on board at an auction in Pennsylvania. On further research I found the signature to be H. O. Tanner which has a two digit date. I can only make out the last number which is a 3. The oil painting is on wood and I found the same picture during my research but this was an oil on canvas called The Banjo Lesson. Does anyone know if H. O. Tanner did and oil on wood, it has his signature. I would greatly appreciate any feedback on this.
Posted by: Dorothy | Apr 14, 2009
This painting brought back so many wonderful memories of my visit to the Luce Foundation Center. Even if you're like me and have no art background whatsoever, you will come away with an understanding and appreciation of the artists and their works.
Posted by: Black Travel | Apr 23, 2009
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