Henry Ossawa Tanner Was an Africanamerican Artist Whose Art Work Featured

Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937) was an African-American painter whose work merits more attention than information technology receives. He was the son of a Methodist minister. His 2d proper noun was given in recognition of Osawatomie Kansas – where John Brown had a violent encounter with pro-slavery advocates in 1856. Though bearing a name that marked the reality of racial tensions – his art never picked upward this theme. Instead his art sought to provide a record of life for the African – America and it was also a means for him to limited his deep Christian faith – specifically in creating paintings of biblical stories that captured his sense of those narratives.

Since beginning seeing The Banjo Lesson several years ago I accept been moved past its simplicity, its grace and the dazzler of the relationship it expresses. The occasion for this work is a chapter in Tanner'south life when he was in Paris studying art and took sick with typhoid and returned to America.

On his return he was encouraged to spend some time in the mountains for health reasons. While visiting the Blueish Ridge Mountains in North Carolina he gained fresh insight when discovering the reality of poverty amongst his young man African Americans. He had grown upwardly in Pittsburgh in a community of the well-educated and financially comfy. The photographs he took while on that visit to the mountains became the inspiration for The Banjo Lesson . The painting kickoff came to public attending as an analogy for a magazine story – Uncle Tim's Compromise on Christmas where a grandfather gifts a grandson with his most favoured possession – his banjo.

Tanner has expressed well the dignity of the figures bringing together two generations bound by beloved and attentiveness. Gear up in a simple context that gives the viewer a glimpse into the life of the characters: rustic, spare, difficult-working and deeply human – buoyed up by the hopeful s trains of music.

In our divided world we practise well to nourish to the themes captured by this creative person. Themes no doubt rooted in his Methodist- Episcopal upbringing where it is understood that humanity will flourish only where dignity and love are embraced. At a time when divisions boss, suffering afflicts, uncertainties abound and hope erodes, the gentle scene in this painting offers comfort for troubled times.

In depicting narratives from the bible – Tanner reveals his spiritual sensitivity every bit found for example in his rendering of the well-known encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus. A night-time visit at an out-of-the-way location where Nicodemus asks a number of questions including that most primordial of questions about his own salvation. Tanner's masterful engagement of low-cal and night impacts the emotions of the viewer while for the artist light served to symbolize the good.

Visual art tin be a stepping stone out of an unsettling world and into a world that reminds united states of america to be grateful and compassionate. It can also nudge us to consider themes that take us beyond the confines of our immediate feel and invite united states of america to participate in the "verse of seeing".

The story of Nicodemus in John three includes not only the questions but besides a comment as poignant for our times equally it was when originally uttered. "The wind blows where information technology likes, you can hear the sound of it but you take no idea where it comes from or where it goes.

Nor tin can you tell how a person is built-in past the air current of the Spirit." (John 3:viii – J.B. Phillips translation) There is a modern prophet who had his own take on our questions and where nosotros will find the answers – and it has echoes of these gospel words.

Blowin' in the Air current

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove canvass
Earlier she sleeps in the sand?
Yeah, and how many times must the cannonballs fly
Earlier they're forever banned?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the air current
The respond is blowin' in the wind

Aye, and how many years must a mountain exist
Earlier it is done to the sea?
And how many years can some people exist
Earlier they're allowed to be free?
Yeah, and how many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn't run across?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the current of air
The answer is blowin' in the wind

Yes, and how many times must a man look up
Before he can run across the sky?
And how many ears must one man accept
Before he can hear people weep?
Yep, and how many deaths will information technology take 'til he knows
That as well many people have died?

The respond, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind

— Bob Dylan (1963)

We are grateful for those who provide financial back up for the work of IMAGO. Donations may be mailed to IMAGO 630 Indian Road, Toronto, ON M6P 2C6 or Donate Here ONLINE

Delight follow and similar us: