Oil painting -> List of Painters -> Aaron Douglas

EARLY DAYS:

Aaron Douglas, the “Father of African-American artist ” and writer who played a pivotal role in the Harlem Renaissance movement of the 1920s and 1930s. Born in Topeka, Kansas in 1899, Douglas grew up in a middle-class family with a strong commitment to education and the arts. Despite the racism and prejudice of his era, Douglas was able to pursue his artistic interests, eventually studying fine art at the University of Nebraska.

Douglas's earliest works, though largely conventional for the time, showed a talent for composition and a deep appreciation for the African-American culture of his day. His most famous works, however, were those he created during the Harlem Renaissance. Douglas was a leader in the use of the "New Negro" aesthetic, a style that combined the bold, vibrant colors of African-American folk art with modernist influences. His paintings and murals, many of which were illustrated books, featured African-American figures in a variety of roles, from laborers to musicians to scholars.

In addition to his paintings and murals, Douglas was an important writer and a leader in the African-American literary movement of the time. He wrote several volumes of poetry, including "The Negro in Art" (1926) and "The Negro in Art: A Critique" (1927). He also wrote several essays, including "The Negro in Art in America" and "The Negro in Art: Our Racial Heritage" (both 1929).

Douglas was an influential teacher and mentor to a number of other African-American artists, including Jacob Lawrence and Romare Bearden. He was also an important figure in the artistic circles of the Harlem Renaissance, with close connections to Langston Hughes, Alain Locke, and Zora Neale Hurston.

Douglas's work during the Harlem Renaissance earned him a great deal of recognition, both in the United States and in Europe. His murals and paintings were exhibited in galleries in Europe, and he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1929.

Douglas continued to create art and write throughout the 1930s and 1940s, though his work didn't always receive the same level of recognition as it did during the Harlem Renaissance. He also worked as a professor, teaching art and design at Fisk University and then at Atlanta University, where he was appointed head of the art department in 1945.

Douglas passed away in 1979, but his legacy continues to live on. His impact on the African-American art movement of the 1920s and 1930s was immense, and his works remain a powerful reminder of the beauty and strength of African-American culture.

CAREER:

Aaron Douglas was a major figure in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. He is best known for his iconic painting, "Aspects of Negro Life," which was used as the cover of the first issue of the magazine, Opportunity.

He was the youngest of four children, and the only boy. His father, Aaron Douglas Sr., was a janitor and his mother, Elanora, was a seamstress. Douglas grew up in a middle-class family and was encouraged by his parents to pursue higher education.

Douglas attended Topeka High School, where he excelled in art class. He was encouraged to pursue an art career and attended the University of Nebraska, where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1922. He then moved to New York City to study at the Art Students League.

Douglas was influenced by African-American art and literature of the Harlem Renaissance, and his work was heavily influenced by the cubist style of Pablo Picasso. Douglas's most iconic work, "Aspects of Negro Life," was completed in 1934 and featured a series of five panels, each depicting a different aspect of African-American life. The painting was used as the cover of the first issue of the magazine, Opportunity.

Douglas also created illustrations for several books, including Langston Hughes's The Weary Blues (1926) and Jean Toomer's Cane (1923). He also created a series of murals for the 135th Street branch of the New York Public Library. The murals depict African-American history in the United States and were completed in 1936.

Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Douglas worked as a freelance illustrator, creating artwork for magazines and advertisements. He also created several murals for various organizations, including the Harmon Foundation, the Works Progress Administration, and the Federal Art Project.

In the 1950s, Douglas moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he taught at Fisk University. He taught classes in art and design until his death in 1979.His work has had a lasting impact on African-American art and literature and continues to influence artists today.