The Harlem Renaissance
by: Rachel Gunsch
A Return to the African American Culture

The Harlem Renaissance
Saturday, Nov. 13th 1920 at 9pm
Harlem, New York, NY, United States
New York, NY
Drawing in two colors by Winold Reiss. This futurist style painting represents the jazz and swing aspect of the African American culture. The movement, joy, and energy characterize the thriving movement taking place in Harlem. In the background there is an african statue representing where they came from and what they are growing into. It is an expression, time line, and dance of the African American culture. | Street Life by William H. Johnson Many symbols are made present through this painting. The tired and worn faces of the subjects represent the toils and hardships of paving a way in life as an African America. The large red gloves can stand for two different things. One is the high fashion, dressing up for dances, and expressing oneself artistically. The other interpretation is that they are rubber cleaning gloves representing the house work of an African American woman. The man dressed sophisticatedly with dancing shoes hints towards the jazz age. The accepting of the African American race was still artificial and therefore the painting is not realistic, but instead abstract. The bright colors create an optimistic future and overcoming the dark, and gloomy past of the brown building. The moon represents the night life and also the end of an era of repressing their culture. | Rhythm Reunion by Joseph Holston This piece mainly represents the expression of the African American culture through Jazz. This new form of music was revolutionary along with the cubist form of painting. African Americans were able to express so much through their music and it was an artistic talent that allowed to reveal their culture. The different colors represent many kinds of people and all together they are one beautiful composition, or race. They are standing out and blaring their musical instruments in order to be heard as shown through the bold, popping aspect of the painting. |
Drawing in two colors by Winold Reiss.
Street Life by William H. Johnson
Rhythm Reunion by Joseph Holston
My Personal Dreams Deferred
Citations
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