The Harlem Renaissance
Art
Behind the Art
The reason behind the art of the Harlem Renaissance was to teach everyone about the African American life style. The art mainly focuses on the History of the South, the journey of the African Americans freedom in Africa to enslavement in the United States and from liberation after the Civil War.
Gathering in the Neighborhood
This piece of art shows how many of the families in the African American community are very close together and everyone is like a big family.
At the Diner
Here we see that some African Americans are sitting down in a cafe talking to their friends, spending time with them, and eating.
Checker Players
This piece shows people playing checkers and spending time with their friends and family, enjoying their time playing the game.
Names of the Aritsts
Aaron Douglas (1899-1979)
Many of the pieces Douglas created were about the life styles of the African Americans. He painted murals on buildings of African American publications such as The Crisis and Opportunity.
Lois Mailou Jones (1905-1998)
Most of the pieces Lois created were about color, texture, and design. Some of her paintings were pictures of poor people struggling.
Jacob Lawrence (1917-2000)
Lawrence's work was based off of a series of paintings of the African American immigration from Africa to the United States. He mainly focused on the History of the South.