The Jazz Singers

        This painting is called The Jazz Singers by Archibald J. Motley Jr., a Harlem Renaissance artist who painted this is 1934. This painting is about the connection of a community through song and music. The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural Mecca for blacks, and this painting illustrates that by depicting African-American men of all different shades and economic situations, as shown by the variety of clothing.

      The first theme expressed in this painting is identification with race. The men are wearing all different types of clothing, suggesting that they are of different backgrounds and economic means. Despite this, they all have their mouthes in the same shape, singing the same song. While the men have different features to themselves, they are connected through their singing of the same song.

        Another theme expressed here is determination to fight against oppression. The men seem to be yelling in song, and most songs during this area had to do with the social liberation of blacks. They have come together in this painting in order to raise their voices and call out for redemption and acceptance among whites.

          When I googled "Harlem Renaissance art" this painting was in the search results. My eye was drawn to it because of its striking composition and use of darks and lights. I like this painting quite a bit both because of its visuals and the messages it conveys.