African American Art: The Long Struggle by Crystal A.
Britton, Smithmark, New York, 1996.
This book is unique, as the artwork of the African Americans
reflect the political situation in their lives. Early art represented the
African style, and then followed by neoclassical type work. Edmonia
Wildfire Lewis represented this style. Lewis, a sculpture was the first
African woman to achieve international success. Her work, “Forever Free”
is full of emotion. Two freed slaves, she kneeling in prayer, and he with
a hand raised showing a broken chain. Henry Ossawa Tanner, a
post-Civil War painter provides a look into African culture. “The Banjo
Lesson” has an older kind gentleman teaching an enthusiastic boy on the
banjo. Religious themes abound and I really enjoy “The Burning Bush” by
Beauford Delaney. “The Flight Into Egypt” by James Lesesne Wells also presents
this theme beautifully, using a myriad of colors. From here the painting
represents race relationships, with a nailed boot crushing and African
American’s head to bloody riots. More recently “The Struggle Continue”
and other works based on this theme.
