Father of African American art

Mike G. on 11 15, 2009

Aaron Douglas, 1899-1979
For 27 years, Aaron Douglas, founder of Fisk University’s Art Department, was also head of the Art Department at Fisk University, influencing a great many students, including a number who were to become prominent African American artists. Prior to that, Douglas was considered the leading artist of the Harlem Renaissance, known especially for his striking murals in libraries and other public buildings. These murals usually depicted significant events and people in African American history.His striking illustrations, murals, and paintings of the life and history of people of color depict an emerging black American individuality in a powerfully personal way. Douglas linked black Americans with their African past and proudly showed black contributions to society decades before the dawn of the civil rights movement. While his murals were usually two dimensional and almost geometrical, his portraits, such as this one of “Marian Anderson,” were traditional and classical

Aaron_DouglasAaron Douglas (1899-1979)

For 27 years, Aaron Douglas, founder of Fisk University’s Art Department, was also head of the Art Department at Fisk University, influencing a great many students, including a number who were to become prominent African American artists. Prior to that, Douglas was considered the leading artist of the Harlem Renaissance, known especially for his striking murals in libraries and other public buildings. These murals usually depicted significant events and people in African American history.His striking illustrations, murals, and paintings of the life and history of people of color depict an emerging black American individuality in a powerfully personal way. Douglas linked black Americans with their African past and proudly showed black contributions to society decades before the dawn of the civil rights movement. While his murals were usually two dimensional and almost geometrical, his portraits, such as this one of “Marian Anderson,” were traditional and classical.

Aaron Douglas Art

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Comments (3)

 

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