Download The Harlem Renaissance Artists

The Harlem Renaissance Artists
Introduction
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The Harlem Renaissance was an expression of
African-American social thought and culture
that resulted from the Great Migration.
 Writers, artists, and musicians began to
produce highly original works dealing with
African- American life.
Aaron Douglas (1898 - 1979)
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He was a Harlem
Renaissance artist who
best exemplified the ‘New
Negro’ philosophy.
He painted murals for
public buildings and
produced illustrations and
cover designs for black
publications.
In 1940, he moved to
Tennessee and founded
the Art Department at Fisk
University.
(Spencer Museum of Art)
Douglas’ “Song of The Towers”
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Douglas depicts three
figures each portraying a
facet of the black
experience: escape of
former slavery,
economic hardships, and
new opportunities art
and music offer to
blacks.
(The New York Times)
William H. Johnson (1901-1970)
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Johnson moved to New
York at the age of
seventeen and received art
education at the National
Academy of Design.
He used both Harlem,
South Carolina, and folk
style of paintings to show
how tradition is linked to
change in Harlem.
(Smithsonian American Art Museum, Harmon Foundation)
Johnson’s “Café”
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This affectionate couple
has the fashionable
flash of zoot-suiters in
the big band era.
 The tangle of the legs
and limbs hints at the
erotic energy of the
night.
(Smithsonian American Art Museum)
Johnson’s “Going to Church”
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Johnson indicates the
importance of church
in the lives of the
African-Americans.
 He drew this in his
personal belief that
religion is rooted in
church and community.
(Smithsonian American Art Museum)
Palmer Hayden (1890-1973)
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Peyton Cole Hedgeman was
given the name Palmer Hayden
by his commanding sergeant
during WWI.
Hayden, an African American
painter as well as a used oils
and water colors to depict
American life.
Because he was influenced by
African folklore economic
hardships, he especially tried to
capture both rural life in the
South and the urban
background of New York City.
(Smithsonian American Art Museum)
Hayden’s “Jeunesse”
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J
Hayden depicts
the high energy of
the dancers and
also indicates the
importance of
jazz music.
The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experiences,
Oxford University Press
Hayden’s “The Janitor Who Paints”
Hayden experienced the
economic hardships of
many black artists.
This has often been
interpreted as both a self
portrait and a statement on
an adversity.
(Cartography Associates)
Louis Mailou Jones (1905-1998)
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Teacher, book
illustrator, and textile
designer, Jones
received inspiration
from African themes
for her art pieces.
 She was also married
to a prominent Haitian
artist, Louis Vergniaud
Pierre-Noel.
(The New York Times)
Jones’ “The Green Apples”
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Considered one of her
favorite Paris
paintings.
 Although very simple,
this artwork exhibits
the “true feeling of
Paris”.
(The New York Times)
Jones’ “Water Carrier”
Jones depicts
Haitian children
carrying water.
 This also shows how
Haiti influenced her
drawings.
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(The New York Times)
In a Nutshell…
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Many Harlem
Renaissance artists
portrayed the great
difficulties many
African-Americans
faced during their
transition from the south
to the north.
Directions
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Create a WORD document; set up MLA header.
Google a Harlem Renaissance artist listed in this
power-point presentation – click google images to
see artwork
Copy and paste THREE photographs or paintings
from the artist to WORD.
Write a brief description (2-3 sentences) of each
picture. (You can discuss the message, meaning,
significance, connection, emotions…)
Print out completed WORD document
Works Cited
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University of Kansas. Spencer Museum of Art. “Aaron Douglas:
African American Modernist.” 2 December 2007.
Online.http://www.aarondouglas.ku.edu/exhibition/about.shtml
Ken Johnson. “Black in America, Painted Euphoric and Heroic.” New
York Times. 11 September 2008. Online.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/arts/design/12doug.html
Smithsonian American Art Museum. Harlem Foundation. “Café”.
2006. Online.
http://americanart.si.edu/collections/search/artwork/?id=11583
The Encyclopedia of Chicago, Chicago Historical Society. “Archibald
Motley Junior”. Jontyle Theresa Robinson. Chicago, Illinois. 2006.
Print.
African American Art and Artists, Samella S. Lewis. 1998. Print.
Whitney Museum of American Art. “Jacob Lawrence.” 5 April 2000.
Online. http://www.whitney.org/Collection/JacobLawrence
Smithsonian American Art Museum. Sara Roby Foundation. “Jacob
Lawrence.” 8 May 2001. Online.
http://americanart.si.edu/collections/search/artwork/?id=14376
Holland Cotter. “Louis Mailou Jones, 92, Painter and Teacher.” 13
June 1998. Online. http://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/13/arts/loismailou-jones-92-painter-and-teacher.html?pagewanted=1