Aaron Douglas’s work especially triggered my interests because I am from Queens, near Jamaica and sometimes I notice artwork on the streets and buildings that look strikingly similar to the artwork of Aaron Douglas. I love the piece that Talia touched upon, “Judgement Day”. Like Talia states, it sympathizes with the blacks who faced discrimination because of the color of their skin. And one can see the angelic figure in the spotlight of the painting, but also I noticed how he is playing the trumpet. This artwork reminded me of Louis Armstrong who was a popular jazz musician, specifically with the trumpet during the 1900s. the painting shows that although there was oppression from the upper white class, the African Americans could not be silenced.
Aaron Douglas was in Kansas and Missouri for most of his life until he intended on studying in Paris. I wondered what would have become of Aaron Douglas if he hadn’t come to Harlem in New York City since he is known as one of the leading figures in the Harlem Renaissance. Like many other Harlem Renaissance figures, Aaron Douglas used his art form to portray the struggles of Black Americans and he does so through his paintings and artwork. From Talia’s description of Aaron Douglas, I was surprised to learn that he was considered “the father of Black American Art.” But looking at his artwork, I can see why. Much of his artwork depicted the pain and struggles that Black Americans had to suffer historically because of slavery and segregation. Douglas seems to be using this art form to highlight this and bring to light the African American suffering to the forefront.
I found Aaron Douglas’s piece “Let my People Go” very powerful and the parallel it draws between the enslaved Jewish people who looked to Moses to free them as God watched over them to the enslaved African Americans who may no longer be enslaved during the Harlem Renaissance as they had been initially but continue to fight for true freedom and equality. I think this piece deals with the course theme of social justice. Although it doesn’t deal with rich versus poor it does juxtapose the enslaved with the enslavers and how the two groups continue to clash. I do agree also that this piece is meant to give hope to African Americans and to reassure them that God is most definitely on their side.
Aaron Douglas’s work especially triggered my interests because I am from Queens, near Jamaica and sometimes I notice artwork on the streets and buildings that look strikingly similar to the artwork of Aaron Douglas. I love the piece that Talia touched upon, “Judgement Day”. Like Talia states, it sympathizes with the blacks who faced discrimination because of the color of their skin. And one can see the angelic figure in the spotlight of the painting, but also I noticed how he is playing the trumpet. This artwork reminded me of Louis Armstrong who was a popular jazz musician, specifically with the trumpet during the 1900s. the painting shows that although there was oppression from the upper white class, the African Americans could not be silenced.
Aaron Douglas was in Kansas and Missouri for most of his life until he intended on studying in Paris. I wondered what would have become of Aaron Douglas if he hadn’t come to Harlem in New York City since he is known as one of the leading figures in the Harlem Renaissance. Like many other Harlem Renaissance figures, Aaron Douglas used his art form to portray the struggles of Black Americans and he does so through his paintings and artwork. From Talia’s description of Aaron Douglas, I was surprised to learn that he was considered “the father of Black American Art.” But looking at his artwork, I can see why. Much of his artwork depicted the pain and struggles that Black Americans had to suffer historically because of slavery and segregation. Douglas seems to be using this art form to highlight this and bring to light the African American suffering to the forefront.
I found Aaron Douglas’s piece “Let my People Go” very powerful and the parallel it draws between the enslaved Jewish people who looked to Moses to free them as God watched over them to the enslaved African Americans who may no longer be enslaved during the Harlem Renaissance as they had been initially but continue to fight for true freedom and equality. I think this piece deals with the course theme of social justice. Although it doesn’t deal with rich versus poor it does juxtapose the enslaved with the enslavers and how the two groups continue to clash. I do agree also that this piece is meant to give hope to African Americans and to reassure them that God is most definitely on their side.