Bearden & DouglasKings of the Renaissance

Welcome to Bearden and Douglas, Kings of the Renaissance. For my exhibition I chose two iconic figures of the Harlem Renaissance style Aaron Douglas and Romare Bearden. I chose these two in particular because their acetic and imagery cater to what I believe embodies the artistic movement in Harlem during this time and it’s future the best. I also think their styles are very complementary to each other, however I think that this exhibition shows a strong progression of art through the different styles. The Harlem Renaissance itself took place during the 1920’s and was pivotal moment, it was in my opinion the most important cultural explosion from creative African-Americans, up to that moment in time. Strongly driven by every factor that had lead up to that moment in time. With music, history, and lifestyle bleeding into all the works that were being developed throughout this period of history. These factors are what make the artist I chose for my exhibition special. With Douglas’ clean renders and extreme handle of color with each piece conveying a strong motif of the times they were crafted in. As well as Bearden who can be seen as a revivalist in the style as he came many years later after the actual Harlem Renaissance. His style using a strong collage and found art bases. I like to think that as time passes there will be creative minds that will hold true to important social commentaries that even if seen as old in some peoples eyes are still important to inform the future masses. Art is a medium that can teach as well as inspire and I feel like this exhibition should be able to provide both those services to it’s viewer. I hope you enjoy my selections of work.

Richard Angel

Artist Statement

This here is a painting of sorts and stuff. You;;lld like what you see maybe? I really hope you can read this. I’m only suppose ta be a button!

• Aaron Douglas. Aspects of Negro Life: Song of the Towers. Oil on Canvas, 1934.

I figured I’d start strong with this initial piece by Douglas. This has to be one of my favorite artists that I’ve seen throughout this course. His style, especially in this piece is so clean and easy to read. In this piece the handle of shape and line to give the viewer and sense of motion and sound is incredible. This piece is also very musically driven as well as giving the viewer some social commentary as well. As seen by the working man striving to reach the seemingly free musician who is the focal point of this piece. As well as the cog like staircase they are displayed on, possible Douglas’ own jab at the “cog in the machine” philosophy. What really draws me to this piece in particular is the use of the green throughout, the way it balances the piece it absolutely incredible.

Artist Statement

This here is a painting of sorts and stuff. You;;lld like what you see maybe? I really hope you can read this. I’m only suppose ta be a button!

• Aaron Douglas. Aspects of Negro Life: The Negro in an African Setting.Oil on canvas, 1934.

This next piece is another in his series Aspects of Negro Life. This however hold a strong historical reference. It’s subjects could easily being dancing in some jazz club in New York city although once the viewer looks he can see that these are in fact tribal natives. The use of color in this piece to convey a sense of mood lighting is really great and it’s composition on top of this makes this such a great piece. Douglas’ grasp on his heritage really shines through in some of his pieces, especially in this particular painting.

Artist Statement

This here is a painting of sorts and stuff. You;;lld like what you see maybe? I really hope you can read this. I’m only suppose ta be a button!

• Aaron Douglas. Aspects of Negro Life: From Slavery Through Reconstruction.Oil on Canvas,1934.

This is the last piece from Aspects of Negro Life in my exhibition and it has to be the most densely packed piece out of all of them. Douglas has so much going on in this piece. It almost seems like a progression picture. As the viewer moves from left to right they see the progression and cultural establishment of African-Americans in the US. Once again Douglas uses a narrow palette of warm colors and simple shapes to craft a masterpiece. The way he uses color to craft a strong sense of depth throughout his pieces is incredible, this piece being no exception. In all I’d say this piece holds a stronger motif than the past two, although his influences drawn from his personal beliefs are very strong in this piece.

Artist Statement

This here is a painting of sorts and stuff. You;;lld like what you see maybe? I really hope you can read this. I’m only suppose ta be a button!

• Aaron Douglas. Congo, gouache and pencil on paperboard , 1928.

Douglas’ piece Conga is probably one that I’m the most fond of. It’s style is strong with Douglas’ iconic flat shapes and repetition of forms to give the viewer almost a sense of motion. The way that Douglas uses only a sliver of warm color throughout the piece is also very interesting. The context of the piece is tribal in nature very similar to the Negro in an African Setting piece that was exhibited early. This piece also very celebration driven as well. The use of abstract shapes to make the humanoid like figures is also an aspect of these works that I enjoy very much as well.

Artist Statement

This here is a painting of sorts and stuff. You;;lld like what you see maybe? I really hope you can read this. I’m only suppose ta be a button!

• Aaron Douglas, Sahdjio, 1925.

This is the final Douglas piece, unfortunately. The abstraction of this piece is truly one of the greatest qualities in this piece and the majority of the works shown prior. The use of shape and line value throughout this piece make it so interesting to look at. It holds a very similar tribal feel to it that the other pieces have although this piece is so much more abstract than any other piece I’ve chosen throughout. In it you have a female subject dominating the center of the canvas surrounded by shapes and forms that draw you eye straight to here, this use of line as a mechanism to bring the viewer into your subject is a technique I am very fond of as well. The fact that this piece is also only black and white makes it even more strong. This simplistic approach is one of the main reasons that Douglas is one of my favorites from my studies.

Artist Statement

This here is a painting of sorts and stuff. You;;lld like what you see maybe? I really hope you can read this. I’m only suppose ta be a button!

• Romare Bearden, Jazz Village, 1967, mixed media with collage on board.

Now we move onto the Bearden pieces of this exhibition. Once again starting strong with Jazz Village, 1967. The one reoccurring thing that I’ve noticed about Bearden is that his work could almost be converted to a digital medium flawlessly and I think that’s what’s so appealing. Jazz village in particular holds a strong palette of color and abstract form. Three musician sit playing instruments and this is easily readable in spite of all the crazy colors and textures Bearden uses through the piece. It also really makes you want to sit and examine each individual piece of texture and color throughout.

Artist Statement

This here is a painting of sorts and stuff. You;;lld like what you see maybe? I really hope you can read this. I’m only suppose ta be a button!

• Romare Bearden, Falling Star, 1980, Lithograph

Bearden’s next piece Falling Star holds a very peaceful, humble emotion for me. You see a woman sipping a beverage in what seems to be her living room during a laundry day possibly? This motif on top of the piece’s use of warm colors and use of texture make to so easy to look at. Even though flat in nature the piece still holds some depth, very similar to that of Douglas’ work. The use of abstract shape for the subject is also very interest in that it draws me in and makes me want to examine it even further.

Artist Statement

This here is a painting of sorts and stuff. You;;lld like what you see maybe? I really hope you can read this. I’m only suppose ta be a button!

• Romare Bearden, The Dove, 1964, mixed media with collage on board.

This next piece the Dove is one of the more abstract and cluttered pieces that I chose. The collage style really caters to the ability to make something seem extremely cluttered although still balanced. Which I think this piece showcases very well. At first glance the piece seems chaotic and disorganized. Although at further inspection the viewer comes to see a street scene. This is what I love most about this piece is it takes patience you really have to inspect and take your time until forms and subjects start to fill the canvas. As well as Bearden’s ability to collage effectively this way is incredible.

Artist Statement

This here is a painting of sorts and stuff. You;;lld like what you see maybe? I really hope you can read this. I’m only suppose ta be a button!

• Romare Bearden, The Train, 1975, mixed media with collage on board.

Bearden’s the Train is by far the most abstract of this exhibition. The scene takes place on what the viewer must take as a train from the title although it is very difficult to ascertain that. You can easily spot three subject’s heads throughout the piece. Although I think the piece speaks volumes in color and composition. This is the first piece of art I didn’t take seriously, in which it just kind of washes over you. You just take the piece for it’s complexity and range of texture. As chaotic as the piece may seem it still holds some semblance of structure and balance through that range. Which makes it interesting in my eyes.

Artist Statement

This here is a painting of sorts and stuff. You;;lld like what you see maybe? I really hope you can read this. I’m only suppose ta be a button!

• Romare Bearden, Jamming at the Savoy, 1980-81, Etching and Aquatint.

The final piece is Jamming at the Savoy. This is a strong closeout I feel because it really reflecting Bearden’s influence from Harlem’s initial Renaissance. Musically driven, strong African-American subjects, and a strong sense of color and composition. This piece has great balance with it’s subjects sitting on the bottom of the frame with little negative space resting above. Bearden balances a broad spectrum of colors and textures throughout the piece which make it very interesting to take in. The abstract shapes as well amongst the band are extremely interesting as well. The piece overall holds a very Harlem Renaissance-esque emotion and that’s why I chose it to cap out my exhibition.

Thank you,

Richard Angel