Aaron Douglas (1898-1979) was a leading visual artist during the Harlem Renaissance.
Douglas was born May 26, 1898, in Topeka, Kansas. At an early age, his mother encouraged his creative interest in art; his drawings and paintings were welcomed on the walls of their home. He was also heavily influenced by Henry Ossawa Tanner, the first black painter to gain international acclaim.
In 1922, Douglas graduated with a B.A. in fine arts from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He taught art in Kansas City for a few years until he decided to pursue a career as an artist and headed to New York to earn his M.A. from Columbia University. In 1925, Douglas moved to New York City and settled in Harlem. A few months after his arrival, Douglas began producing illustrations for both The Crisis and Opportunity, the two most important magazines associated with the Harlem Renaissance. Douglas was also the illustrator for The New Negro, edited by Dr. Alain Locke.
In addition to his magazine illustrations for the two most important black magazines of the period, Douglas illustrated numerous books and also became a successful muralist. During the early 1930s, he completed the most important works of his career, his murals at Fisk University and at the 135th Street Branch of the New York Public Library, now the Arthur Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
Throughout his early career, Douglas looked for opportunities to increase his knowledge about art. In 1928, Douglas began studying African and modern European art at the Barnes Foundation, an educational art institution in a suburb of Philadelphia. In 1931, Douglas and his wife, Alta, went to Paris, where he studied French painting and drawing techniques, as well as sculpture at the Académie Scandinave. While in Paris, Douglas met his lifelong idol: Henry Ossawa Tanner.
Song of The Towers (1934) is part of a series of murals Douglas painted for the NY Public Library’s Countee Cullen Branch
After returning from Paris, Douglas became the first president of the Harlem Artists Guild in 1928, which was successful in helping get black artists acceptance into the arts project under the Works Progress Administration. Douglas became known as the “Dean” among his fellow artists.
In 1937, Douglas founded the art department at Fisk University, a historically black university in Nashville, Tennessee. He taught for 29 years and also served as department head before retiring in 1966.
Following his retirement, Douglas continued to lecture and paint until his death in 1979.
Earlier this year, the Frist Center for the Visual Arts opened Aaron Douglas: African American Modernist, the first nationally touring retrospective devoted to the foremost visual artist of the Harlem Renaissance. It featured nearly 90 paintings, murals, book and magazine illustrations. Photos are available.
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Concrete Loop features ‘Black History Spotlights’ each week honoring black people who have played pivotal roles in history. submissions are welcome.
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Thanks so much for showing a spotlight on one of my most favorite visual artists Aaron Douglas! The body of work he left behind is inspiring!
this is cool
Very Interesting. Good work CL. Im learning alot about my history.
The Harlem Renaissance is my favorite historical period of time so I really appreciate the info on an artist from that time.
Good stuff.
I am also a visual artist and a student. In this business I have seen very few black artist. But I find it very encouraging to read about black artist as my self who have been very succsesful with their carrer.
very inspiring!
never heard of this man til now
so thanks cl!
This just shows that in every creative way BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL!
This is my all time favorite artist! I live here in Nashville,TN so he’s no stranger to me. My dad went to Fisk and you can feel the culture when you step on the campus. In certain sections of the school his artwork fills the place. Grandiose murals and paintings! Absolutely amazing!
I just love these post
I love his murals! I’d love to see one in real life…I need to get my art travel on…
wow…he made such an impact on people’s lives while he was alive and even after his death. i agree with #8, black is beautiful!
Another great & diverse post J. I like how you are covering different areas of culture.
When I make it big one day, I’ve already pledged to myself that I will buy Black art and display it proudly at my home, and my offices. Paintings, sculptures and other forms of art that represent all the greatness that we’ve achieved since being on this continent – despite nearly insurmountable hurdles! Art not only imitates life, but it CELEBRATES life!
Thanks J for that one. I think you should do that first black woman to enter the AIA as a fellow. Theres only 3 in there I believe.
his work is beautiful..such a pioneer
It’s CRAZY that Ya’ll post this! I was talking to someone the other day about Black history in the history book should include more than the civil rights era but also the Harlem Rennaissance. Aaron Douglas was one of my favorites.
Thanks for this post Angel!
It has encouraged me greatly to push on with my style of expression and has helped me to realize that good quality meaningful creations live on beyond the lifespan of the artist!
Everyone has a way to contribute to the Black experience in their on way!
Scurv
I am a graduate of Fisk University. His murals in our administration building are an amazing site.
… My little brother is an artist and Im going to send him this for inspiration! Thanks so much for the info!
Fisk Forever!
thanx for posting this I love Art and everything about it. But I yall should still do something on black native americans. I am an artist so I love seeing different things.
What a PLEASANT SURPRISE! CL never ceases to amaze. AARON DOUGLAS is my FAVORITE ARTIST. Who’dve THUNK? Thanks for bringing some LIGHT to one of BLACK AMERICA’S MOST PROLIFIC ARTISTS, EVER!!!! Big Ups!!!!!
A beautiful tribute to a beautiful man! Thanks so much CL!!
I really liked this post. It was enlighting.
Thank You concreteloop for the educational knowledge honoring our people!!!!
I LOVE Aaron Douglas, thanks for this post! Thanks for ALL of these Black History Spotlights, they’re such a great addition to Concrete Loop.
This is very good.
Its good to see you feature Aaron Douglas, but I am dismayed at the sidebar like mention of his time at Fisk University. He was an artistic icon there and fueled the genuis of several prominent Afr-Am artists during his teaching career. His presence cemented the importance of Fisk’s art gallery which is among the most impressive Afr-Am ran galleries in the WORLD.
He left several works behind including paintings that were applied directly to walls and ceilings in Fisk’s Administrative Building. These works are among his most important. And alone make the building one of the most valuable properties in Nashville TN. TO know Aaaron Douglas noted this period at Fisk as one of his most important and defining moments.
If you visit the college you will see works that have never been in any books and you see your favorites so close that you can smell the oil paint like Aaron just finished them today.