Influential Artist of the Harlem Renaissance

The Harlem Renaissance era gave rise to many influential artists. Industrialization in New York at the time, attracted many southern African Americans to migrate north for jobs. It was this movement that began the melting pot of ideas and culture centered in the Harlem district.
Alain Locke and Charles Johnson were some of the literary writers who were credited with spearheading the movement and wanting to promote the cultural accomplishments of the African American community. The ideas from the literary writers, along with the influence of jazz music, gave way to inspire many African American artists.
Aaron Douglas was one such artist, who arrived in New York in 1924, and became one of the most prolific artists of the time. Douglas was an important figure in the artistic movement, in that he wanted to portray the African American's continuity with historical style, and was noted as being the first to do so.

Another contributing artist in American culture was Palmer Hayden. Hayden's folk expressions were aimed at preserving the southern culture of African Americans. Along with Douglas and Hayden was Lois Jones, who extended the tradition of African American visual art even further. As with many Harlem artist of the time, her travels to Paris influenced her style and those around her when she returned to America. Other artists include sculptor Augusta Savage and photographer James Van Der Zee.

It was these artists and many more, that helped catapult African American culture into to modern America, as well as lay a foundation for future artist to build from. The Harlem Renaissance was a momentous time in American history, in that it hosted some of the greatest African American painters and writers to be just that painters and writers, without the confines of political agendas. It was art in its purest form, and signified a historic contribution to the world.

Sources:

The Journal of American History

Vol. 77, No. 1 (Jun., 1990), pp. 253-261

libproxy.uta.edu:2055/stable/2078660

Lott, Tommy. "Locke, Alain Leroy." Encyclopedia of Aesthetics. Ed. Michael Kelly

Oxford Art Online. 25 Sep. 2010

libproxy.uta.edu:3439/subscriber/article/opr/t234/e0331

Warren, Kenneth W.. "Harlem Renaissance." Encyclopedia of Aesthetics. Ed. Micheal Kelly

Oxford Art Online. 25 Sep. 2010

libproxy.uta.edu:3439/subscriber/article/opr/t234/e0253

"Douglas, Aaron." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. 25 Sep. 2010

libproxy.uta.edu:3439/subscriber/grove/art/T023491

Paul Von Blum. "Jones, Lois." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. 25 Sep. 2010

libproxy.uta.edu:3439/subscriber/grove/art/T2021751

Pictures:

Aspiration, Aaron Douglas

1936

Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

www.thinker.org

The Janitor Who Paints, Palmer Hayden

1937

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

americanart.si.edu/index3.cfm