African American woman in Brown overcoat on a street at night. She is carrying a suitcase and lantern.
"She's leaving home" - My largest painting so far! 24" x 36" oil on canvas. Inspired by a photo by Annie-Bertram -Professional Photographer - Model - unknown #africanamericanwoman #nocturn #oilPainting #Gothic #art
An unidentified mature African American actress is a woman of gravitas thanks to this masterful portrait by Harlem Renaissance era artist Winold Reiss who immigrated from Germany at the age of 27 in 1913. He became famous for more than 250 works depicting Native Americans, but Reiss was known to paint all people with dignity. We see that mindset clearly in this painting that rivals photography for its realism and documentary grit. Reiss’ portrait depicts a middle-aged Black woman with dark hair styled in a short, wavy bob that frames her deep brown face and slightly pensive, yet focused expression. Her eyes are dark and expressive, her nose is broad, and her mouth is closed in a neutral, almost serious manner as if she is prepared to say something of importance. She is wearing a dark-colored cardigan with subtle pink and darker stripes at the cuffs and collar. Underneath, she wears an off-white, loosely fitted blouse with some faint patterned embroidery near the neckline. A significant element of the attire is a long, light beige scarf with thin, dark stripes; it's draped loosely around her neck and shoulders. The scarf has a somewhat textured appearance in the artwork. She also wears a pendant necklace featuring a heart-shaped charm. Dangling, light-blue earrings are visible in her ears while a pair of eyeglasses rests on a surface near her hand. Reiss was a painter, sculptor, and graphic designer who was always attracted to differences. He spent time at the Blackfeet Reservation, in Montana, in 1920, and made some remarkable drawings of the tribe. After that, he illustrated the historic anthology “The New Negro” in 1925, edited by philosopher Alaine Locke. Reiss’s forceful graphic sense highlights his psychological acuity. He’s drawn to his subjects not by their race but by their grounded, lyrical presence leading him to often pose his sitters against light-colored backgrounds to better to see their faces and minds at work.
The Actress by Winold Reiss (American, born in Germany) - Pastel on illustration board / 1925 - Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York) #womeninart #art #portrait #WinoldReiss #MET #pastelart #reiss #womensart #portraitofawoman #themet #actress #AfricanAmericanWoman #fineart #pastels #artwork #dignity
#HeadstrongProfile 9: Jane Wright (1919-2013) was considered the “mother of #chemotherapy.” After obtaining her MD in 1945, she quickly ran up the ranks at #HarlemHospital to top #NYMedicalCollege . By 1967, there was no other #AfricanAmericanWoman in such a high position.
This portrait of Nancy Foy Lawson is a rare example of a commission featuring an African American women in nineteenth-century American art. Maine artist William Matthew Prior painted Lawson and her husband in Boston. Prior breaks with precedence and adopts conventions for this portrait similar to those of his white sitters. Lawson is portrayed wearing an elegant dark green dress with layers and large snow white collar with patterned edge as well as a light offwhite bonnet with ruffles and peach tie. Her only visible jewelry is a strong gold ring on her right hand and a black tie necklace with gold clasp. She is holding an open book, signifying her education and literacy. Lawson sits in front of luxurious red drapery and a pastoral landscape backdrop, an artistic trope typical in painted portraits of the time. Married to a clothing merchant, Lawson was originally from Maine, though lived at the time in Boston. This painting suggests her elite status as a free Black woman. Prior likely encountered Lawson and her husband William through their shared connections to a nineteenth century religious movement that sometimes espoused equality among races and genders.
Mrs. Nancy Lawson by William Matthew Prior (American) - Oil on canvas / 1843 - Shelburne Museum (Vermont) #womeninart #portrait #painting #ShelburneMuseum #art #artwork #WilliamMatthewPrior #fineart #womensart #portraitofawoman #prior #oilpainting #poc #americanart #africanamericanwoman #artoftheday
How actual #PatrioticAmericans operate. Another #AfricanAmericanWoman rising to the occasion.
#Recognize #AwakenQuicklyThoseStillSleeping
