Harriet Tubman by Aaron Douglas

Harlem Renaissance episode 4: a painting.

Harriet Tubman Artist: Aaron Douglas Medium: Mural at Bennett College for WomenPlace: Greensboro, North CarolinaDate: c. 1931

The central figure: Comment on the identity of the person her position the objects ... What does the enlarged object symbolise?

Look at the vegetation, what does it stand for? Describe the people, especially the one in the circle: who can they be? What elements can you give to justify your answer?

Describe the setting . Focus on the characters facing left, comment on their positions, the objects they have. Say what they can represent.

Focus on this last person: how is it different from the others? What is he looking at? What can it represent?

Look at the general layout of the painting again: what shapes structure the picture? Douglas's artworks are said to represent all aspects of the Harlem Renaissance movement, think of an art that could be represented by these shapes. Comment on the light as well. Finally give your opinion on the painting, say in particular if it's corresponds to the ideas of the movement or not and why.

Find the different elements and answer the questions on the different pages