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Michael
Michael
@mdstamper.bsky.social
9 months ago
The Harmon Foundation, a philanthropic organization based in New York City from 1922 to 1967, included this portrait in their exhibition “Portraits of Outstanding Americans of Negro Origin,” which documented noteworthy African Americans’ contributions to the United States. Modeling their goal of social equality, the Harmon sought portraits from African American artist Laura Wheeler Waring and Euro-American artist Betsy Graves Reyneau. The two painters followed the conventional codes of academic portraiture, seeking to convey their sitters’ extraordinary accomplishments. This painting, along with a variety of educational materials, toured nation-wide for 10 years, serving as a visual rebuttal to racism. Anna Arnold Hedgeman was an African-American civil rights leader, politician, educator, and writer. Under U.S. President Harry Truman, she served as executive director of the National Council for a Permanent Fair Employment Practices Commission. She was also appointed to the cabinet of New York City mayor Robert F. Wagner, Jr., becoming the first African-American woman to hold a cabinet post in NYC. Hedgeman was a major advocate for both minorities and the poor. She also served as a consultant for many companies and entities on racial issues plus she was among the organizers of the 1963 March on Washington. Reyneau portrays Dr. Hedgeman seated in a dark wooden chair in right profile, but she has turned her head to look directly at us. She's wearing a full-length, long-sleeve dress with bold, horizontal green and white stripes. Her hands are resting in her lap, and her expression appears thoughtful and direct, but not overtly emotional. Her skin is rendered in a range of warm colors, with subtle shifts in tone. There are shades of peach, pink, and yellow, capturing the highlights and shadows of her face. She has short, dark brown hair, with lighter brown highlights and subtle shading. The contrasting muted green and white stripes create a visually striking pattern.

The Harmon Foundation, a philanthropic organization based in New York City from 1922 to 1967, included this portrait in their exhibition “Portraits of Outstanding Americans of Negro Origin,” which documented noteworthy African Americans’ contributions to the United States. Modeling their goal of social equality, the Harmon sought portraits from African American artist Laura Wheeler Waring and Euro-American artist Betsy Graves Reyneau. The two painters followed the conventional codes of academic portraiture, seeking to convey their sitters’ extraordinary accomplishments. This painting, along with a variety of educational materials, toured nation-wide for 10 years, serving as a visual rebuttal to racism. Anna Arnold Hedgeman was an African-American civil rights leader, politician, educator, and writer. Under U.S. President Harry Truman, she served as executive director of the National Council for a Permanent Fair Employment Practices Commission. She was also appointed to the cabinet of New York City mayor Robert F. Wagner, Jr., becoming the first African-American woman to hold a cabinet post in NYC. Hedgeman was a major advocate for both minorities and the poor. She also served as a consultant for many companies and entities on racial issues plus she was among the organizers of the 1963 March on Washington. Reyneau portrays Dr. Hedgeman seated in a dark wooden chair in right profile, but she has turned her head to look directly at us. She's wearing a full-length, long-sleeve dress with bold, horizontal green and white stripes. Her hands are resting in her lap, and her expression appears thoughtful and direct, but not overtly emotional. Her skin is rendered in a range of warm colors, with subtle shifts in tone. There are shades of peach, pink, and yellow, capturing the highlights and shadows of her face. She has short, dark brown hair, with lighter brown highlights and subtle shading. The contrasting muted green and white stripes create a visually striking pattern.

“Dr. Anna Arnold Hedgeman” by Betsy Graves Reyneau (American) - Oil on canvas / 1945 - National Portrait Gallery (Washington DC) #WomenInArt #art #ArtText #WomanArtist #WomensArt #artwork #FemaleArtist #BetsyGravesReyneau #BetsyGraves #HarmonFoundation #portrait #NationalPortraitGallery #Smithsonian

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