Early Modern- The Harlem Renaissance

 The Harlem Renaissance

    The Harlem Renaissance, also known as "The New Negro Movement", took place during 1920-1930. We saw a burst of  African-American artists, musicians, and dancers during this time. The Harlem Renaissance was a literary movement and social revolt against racism, but most importantly it was a way to uniquely express culture and redefine African-American expression. African-Americans were highly encouraged to celebrate their heritage and become "The New Negro," a term coined by Alain LeRoy Locke in 1925. In his book, The New Negro (1925), Locke describes the northward migration of Blacks as "something like a spiritual emancipation." (Robinurton)

    Though it did not last long, the Harlem Renaissance left a powerful impact on Americans, brought attention to and produced great African-American works of art, and greatly influenced and inspired future African-American artists and intellectuals. (NMAAHC).

    The following consists of a virtual exhibit featuring works from some of the most known artists of the time: Augusta Savage, Lois Mailou Jones, and Aaron Douglas.

Gamin by Augusta Savage (1892-1962)

    Gamin was created in 1929 in Harlem, New York, and depicts Savage's nephew who was living with her at the time. It is made with plaster that was painted to look bronze, however the original is a life-size bronze piece. Her nephew is wearing a soft cap, commonly worn by the working youth of newspaper boys. 'Gamin' was used as its title because of its meaning of streetwise children (AmericanArt). Gamin is Savage's most known work.

The original can be found at the New York Public Library in the Art and Artifacts Division of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture section. Copies can be found at Dartmouth, Detroit Institute of Arts, University of Maryland, Cleveland Art Museum, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. (Beinecke)

Savage overcame poverty, racism, and sexism to achieve the great feats that she has. Due to poverty, she was mainly only able to use plaster and then paint it to look like the metals typically used at the time, (such as bronze). Her leadership in the art communities she ran, like the Harlem Community Art Center, had a great influence on artists like Jacob Lawrence and provided free art teachings to many. (Artsy).

Art Elements

Form: Savage demonstrates form by accurately creating a piece of sculpture that mimics the 3D form of the human body, including intricate facial details. 

Line: Softer lines come together to bring shape to the body and clothes, while bolder lines bring together the details of the face. 

Tone: A forlorn tone can be felt throughout the piece, depicting the lonely and harsh life of working youth. Shadows can be seen cast from the cap over the face, adding to the forlorn look on the boy's face.

Personal Thoughts:

I can understand the popularity of this piece, as it is beautifully constructed. However, it is not a piece I would want to own.

 

The Ascent of Ethiopia by Lois Mailou Jones (1905-1998) 
Created: 1932, Harlem, New York
Located: Milwaukee Art Museum

   

The Ascent of Ethiopia was created using oil on canvas and was inspired by the positive representations of traditional African iconography seen in Harlem Renaissance works. The painting shows the long journey to reach the Harlem Renaissance and the impact it had on bringing African culture to the spotlight (HistoryPin). Jones wanted to 'convey profound respect' for the Black experience, 'with a sympathetic and dignified treatment,' according to a former student of hers, Tritobia Hayes Benjamin (MAM). 

Jones was inspired by the Harlem Renaissance and its influence can be seen in her works.

Art Elements

Shapes: Many shapes can be seen throughout this painting, such as circles, stars, pyramids, rectangles, and triangles. These give shape to buildings, stairs, people, elements of the sky, and clothing patterns.

Pattern: Patterns can be seen in the make-up of the people with their composition of rectangles and circles to give form to their bodies. Patterns can also be seen throughout the Pharaoh's clothing wear and headpiece. 

Color: Vivid colors are used, capturing the viewer's attention and casting a spotlight over the piece on its own. 

Lines: Brushstrokes are light and dreamy, making you want to capture every detail. 

Personal Thoughts 

This painting is as beautiful as it is powerful, but also has a soft feel to it like it should be printed on a blanket rather than a canvas to engulf you in its warmth. I would love to own a copy of this painting, it is simply breathtaking and powerful. 

Evolution of Negro Dance by Aaron Douglas (1899-1979)
1935, Harlem, New York
Located: Harlem Branch of the Y.M.C.A

Evolution of Negro Dance is an original mural that is still surviving in the Harlem Branch of the Y.M.C.A from the Harlem Renaissance. It was a contribution to the Works Progress Administration (WPA) by Aaron Douglas a renowned painter and illustrator of the time. Silhouetted figures are depicted in the mural as representations of the different periods in African-American history from slavery to the Harlem Renaissance through dance (Untapped). 

Art Elements

Color & Tone: A darker palette with pops of light emerging is used to create a tone of dusk to dawn. Symbolizing the rise of something beautiful. 

Shapes: Shapes are shown to create the image of trees through petal-like oval leaves and rectangular trunks. Rectangles and circles can also be clearly made out to shape the silhouetted figures. 

Pattern: A repetitive pattern of leaves is shown to depict tree limbs.

Lines: Soft brushstrokes, that come together to unify the mural as a whole in one big dance. 

Personal Thoughts

Evolution of Negro Dance is a beautifully crafted mural and I love that the tree's limbs seem to be dancing along with the figures, guiding you through the piece. I would not own a copy of this piece, as I feel it is most powerful where it is located in its original form. 

Works Cited

Historypin. “Historypin.” Historypin, 2024, www.historypin.org/en/explore/geo/37.77493. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kuhl, Nancy. “Augusta Savage: Gamin.” Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, 1 Oct. 2020, beinecke.library.yale.edu/article/augusta-savage-gamin. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Our American Story. “A New African American Identity: The Harlem Renaissance.” National Museum of African American History & Culture, Smithsonian, 31 July 2014, nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/new-african-american-identity-harlem-renaissance.

Ruud, Brandon. “Lois Mailou Jones and ‘the Ascent of Ethiopia.’” Milwaukee Art Museum Blog, 13 July 2020, blog.mam.org/2020/07/13/lois-mailou-jones-and-the-ascent-of-ethiopia/.

Sandy, Niama Safia. “Sculptor Augusta Savage’s Towering Impact on the Harlem Renaissance.” Artsy, 5 Apr. 2019, www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-sculptor-augusta-savages-towering-impact-harlem-renaissance.

Smithsonian American Art Museum. “Gamin.” Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2019, americanart.si.edu/artwork/gamin-21658. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Urton, Robin. “Eyeconart: The Harlem Renaissance.” Robinurton.com, 2024, robinurton.com/history/Harlem.htm. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Waldman, Benjamin. “A Forgotten Harlem Renaissance Mural inside the Harlem YMCA - Untapped New York.” Untapped New York, 29 Feb. 2016, www.untappedcities.com/a-forgotten-harlem-renaissance-mural-inside-the-harlem-ymca/. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.