By Colby Weaver

Cultural impacts in the AgesAfrican American ArtJean-Michel

Basquiat “Fallen Angel” 1981

Though the ages, African American art has been a profound push in the artwork community. Not simply inspiring the world with plentiful masterpieces, but also inspiring culture and self freedom. The first Artist we will look at is Kara Walker, known for her contemporary art style influenced by race, gender, sexuality, violence and identity. She does this through a common theme of silhouettes, where black contrasting figures appear as enigmic icons for the community. This is scene as poverty vs wealth, male vs female, and even white and black. The recurring theme of fighting forces remains abundant in her work.

The Second artist we will look is Aaron Douglas (1899-1979). Who focused on the Harlem Renaissance as his primary inspiration. He had a strong use of African design which peaked the interest of many critics looking for African heritage in art. Similar to Kara walker his artworks shared a similar style in Silhouettes with strong contrasting background. Though Douglas's work focused not on the cultural difference and aggression of African American culture, but the love and spirit of their livelihood. Many of his work was filled with dance, bright colors and cultural history as African culture transferred across the seas. His work exemplified power and the hope of spirituality.

Kara Walker – Untiled (Hunting Season) 2001

Kara Walker vastly known for her silhouette works used black cut outs to exemplify middle and upper class systems. Here she reached to identify racist paraphernalia and the various versions of middle class Americans. Forwardly the title hunting season gives of a sinister approach of the wealthy preying on the poor.

Kara Walker

Kara Walker Negress Notes 1996

In Kara Walker’s earlier work silhouette were strong in her work but not singled without color and detail. In this piece Negress Notes, she is interpreting racial discrimination. In her own words “It is grotesque as projecting one’s ugly soul onto another’s pretty body” (Kara Walker). Forwardly thinking, no matter the age African American’s where taking in the ugly thoughts of a culturally discriminated community

Kara Walker

Kara Walker Burn1998

This piece seems to cover the simplicity of Kara Walker’s silhouette pieces. In appearance it covers the cultural stigma of early African American culture. Outwardly we are destroying ourselves. Burning our society with the aggression and violence that articulates our nation. Key details in the cloud of smoke. The slight silhouettes of a human face and cityscape. Perhaps African American culture are identified in the smoke cloud. They are the ash that will remain to leave a mark on the world.

Kara Walker

A more unique style of her silhouettes include a offset lithograph, screen-print on paper. This artwork is one of a series all encompassing a primary focus of the Civil war and other historical events. She would place her silhouettes on these historical settings bringing the war to a more public appearance. Slavery was a strong suite in the Civil war, forever living within the African American community. Kara Walker wish to bring attention to the history in a unique way.

Kara Walker Harper’s Pictorial History of Civil War (Annotated) 2005

Kara Walker

Kara Walker No World1996

One of Kara Walker’s few etchings, foresees a sense of horror. It mediates the trade and ocean voyage of slavery. It is the first of several artworks representing the opening act of the sorrows to come. Dark shadowy hands appear to have a grim approach, It carries the ship towards a small crowd of people. The dark silhouette in the water, appears in a drowning pose, with nothing left but despair in her future.

Kara Walker

First mural in the series Aspects of Negro Life. The mural reflects a timeline of African culture fusing with American counterpart and the struggler to find their place in it. Here in this piece, a man and woman from Africa dance to the excitement of singing and drums. A ritualistic and warm setting emphasized by rays of light. With the strong suggestion of African spirits from the sigil above their heads. Aaron Douglas

Negro in African Setting (Aspects of Negro Life)1934

Aaron Douglas

Second of a series of 4 oil paintings. Song of Towers examples a man resisting the hand of service. It describes the environmental change of African Americans after World war 1. From the South to the industrial and booming culture of the north. The notable saxophone represents the explosion in creativity and the fight to be spoken and to be heard.

Aaaron Dougless Song of Towers (Aspes of Negro Life)1966

Aaron Douglas

From slavery to Reconstruction Douglas seeks to identify the role of African Americans. This is the Third in the series of 4 in his mural Aspects of Negro Life after Song of Towers. It seeks to exemplify the ideas of the Harlem Renaissance. In this piece its easy to notice the mixed culture. The jazz and music aspects of the Renaissance with the African heritage culture through the plants, dancers, and environmental background.

Aaron Douglas From Slavery to Reconstruction (Aspects of Negro Life)1934

Aaron Douglas

Fourth mural of Aspects of Negro Life. This piece creates an illusionary theme of Africans in plantation fields in the south. The illusion is scene by the creation of happiness and cheerful dancing. The workers on the right suffer the aftermath of lynching from the fields. A more surprising aspect comes from the red star in the center, prominently reflecting the red star of communism. Aaron noted it illustrated the hope that harmony could be achieved through political communism or socialism.

Aaron Douglas An Idyll of the Deep South (Aspects of Negro Life)1930’s

Aaron Douglas

Aspiration serves as one of the most iconic pieces of his work. It circulates the primary aspect and belief underlining Douglas’s art. In Aspiration Douglas seeks to connect historical slavery of Egyptians and African Americans. Their progression as both cultures break the shackles of slaves. Their rise and fall and transition to mixed cultures. The North star rests in the center which served as a guide for African Americans in the civil war.

Aaron Douglas Aspirations 1997

Aaron Douglas