Chain Gang

          This painting is titled Chain Gang and was painted by Harlem Renaissance artist William H. Johnson. Chain Gang is about blacks in jail and what they had to deal with, as shown by the prison uniforms and pick-axes. It was painted in 1939, and shows a few of the struggles that blacks were facing at the time.
          The first theme this painting shows is determination to fight against oppression. Johnson has painted the men in classic prison garb, which could represent the institutionalized and jail-like oppression forced upon blacks at this time. Their various tools show how they are willing to fight against oppression and work towards a better future.
          Identification with race is also a theme in this painting, which is shown by the way in which he painted the men. Their clothing blends them all together, and it is nearly impossible to tell where one man begins and the other ends. This creates the idea that this group of men are a bonded unit who identify with the same thing.
          I first saw this painting as an example in class, and knew I wanted to use it for my blog. I thought it would be an interesting painting to analyze, because of how many themes it includes that I could talk about. I like the use of strong, bold colors and simple figures that draw you into the painting.