This Art Gallery represents the history of black culture, Focusing on Emphasis, Shape and Space. My intention of this gallery is to show, important figures, meaning and the lifestyle, lived throughout history for black culture.
Frederick Douglas is the first nationally known African American. His exploits consist of the North Star, which is a newspaper founded by him. His autobiography is one of the greatest reads in American history. He’s a testimony of freedom. I chose this portrait because it represents the power and strength of one man.
The Hunted Slaves, Richard Ansdell, 1861, From the collection of: Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
Painted in 1861 by Richard Ansdell, “The Hunted Slaves” is a very VERY emotional painting and gives the viewers a scary look into the life of slavery. The painting shows escaped husband defending his wife from a pack of savage dogs with only an ax. This painting shows heroics, love, fear, death (the dog) and pain. I chose this painting because it’s an affective look into the history of slavery.
A Ride for Liberty -- The Fugitive Slaves, Eastman Johnson, ca. 1862, From the collection of: Brooklyn Museum
A Ride for Liberty shows a lot of feeling as well as space, it’s a strong piece of art but simple. Created by Eastman Johnson, who said he witnessed this happening in real life, showing a family on a horse escaping to union lines. The image focuses only on one area, the fugitives and horse.
The Bright Side, Winslow Homer (1836–1910), 1865, From the collection of: de Young museum
In 1865, painter Winslow Homer created confusing painting called, The Bright Side. I say confusing because to this day scholars still question the meaning of this painting. From the title to the subjects used, they figure Homer was making a discriminatory pun about color. I chose this image because it gives off a sympathetic feeling showing teamsters resting by a tent. The painting is very spacious as well, with things going on in the background, the tree line, and the huge blue sky.
A Visit from the Old Mistress, Winslow Homer, 1876, From the collection of: Smithsonian American Art Museum
This postwar South painting shows a lot of tension in it. After the war slaves no longer had to greet or even speak to their masters. This image shows the mistress approaching her former slaves, and before the war ended all slaves had to stand and greet when their owners approach but as you can see that’s not the issue anymore. This painting by Winslow Homer depicts a lot of emotion, and feeling going on between the two communities.
Sunday Morning in Virginia, Winslow Homer (American, b.1836, d.1910), 1877, From the collection of: Cincinnati Art Museum
Sunday Morning in Virginia is one of Winslow Homer’s most expressive paintings. It’s shows children reading the bible in a slave cabin being watched over by an elder. The painting was painted after slavery was abolished, but still show the suffering and sadness the black culture still had to live. The focus of this image according to Homer was to address the issues of literacy and religion.
A Dog Swap, Richard Norris Brooke, 1881, From the collection of: Smithsonian American Art Museum
Created by Richard Norris Brooke, “A Dog Swap’ shows a black family on a relaxing day sitting in front of a house. The title tells me the two male subjects are considering trading dogs. This painting broken down seems like the subject with the black dog, that’s his house and the subject with the lighter one came to discuss trading dogs. It gives off a sad feeling noticing how the little girl with her head down and the dog resting on the knee of the owner.
The Last Moments of John Brown, Thomas Hovenden (1840–1895), ca. 1884, From the collection of: de Young museum
Created by Thomas Hovenden, “The Last Moments of John Brown” is a painting showing John Brown and his followers being taken for execution. This painting has a lot of emotion in. John Brown was captured for trying to start a rebellion for enslaved blacks in the south. He and his followers were captured trying to seize weapons at Harper’s Ferry. This painting represents heroics and strength, emphasis and sadness.
The Underground Railroad, Charles T. Webber (American, b.1825, d.1911), 1893, From the collection of: Cincinnati Art Museum
Worldly know, The Underground Railroad was a well-organized route used to transport slaves to freedom. This painting by Charles T. Webber was created to celebrate abolitionists’ heroism in the fight against slavery. This painting is very spacious and shows movement amongst the travelers. Also it focuses more on the human subjects then the background.
Betsy Graves Reyneau created this painting of Thurgood Marshall. Known for his play in 1954 Brown v. the Board of Education, his work ruled segregation of public schools by race to be unconstitutional. He was nominated in 1967 by President Johnson to become the first African American Supreme Court justice. I chose this painting because Thurgood Marshall played a huge part in Black History. The painting shows power and focuses just on one subject, Thurgood Marshall.
Credits: All media
This user gallery has been created by an independent third party and may not represent the views of the institutions whose collections include the featured works or of Google Arts & Culture.
