Aspirations 1936

Art Historian: We're looking at "Aspirations," a tempera on board painting completed by Aaron Douglas in 1936. It’s a striking example of his work from the Harlem Renaissance. Artist: It's moody, right? The colours are subdued, purples and grays, almost like a faded memory. And the figures…silhouettes in motion, yearning for something just beyond their grasp. Gives me a feeling of hope mixed with a certain amount of uncertainty. Art Historian: That captures the moment rather well. Douglas crafted this work at a time when African Americans were striving for equality and opportunity. Notice the silhouetted figures rising above what appear to be broken chains. Artist: Yeah, the broken chains are hard to miss. Symbols are a bit on the nose here, aren't they? Still, there's something powerful about those reaching hands juxtaposed with the angular skyscrapers in the background. Makes you wonder what kind of future they were envisioning. Art Historian: Precisely. Douglas often incorporated geometric shapes and streamlined forms, very typical of Art Deco, to depict the aspirations for progress and upward mobility. You can see that the artist embedded symbolic layers in his figuration, narrative, and even geometric abstraction, touching upon themes of liberation and cityscape. Artist: I see what you mean with Art Deco - there’s something futuristic, yet grounded, in his choice of forms. The palette, though, speaks to something older, maybe even archetypal. Those figures have the weight of history pressing down, even as they're striving toward the light. Art Historian: This piece reflects Douglas's commitment to depicting the Black experience, particularly during the interwar period and the Great Migration. His work provided a visual language for the New Negro Movement. This and similar artworks showcase an important social narrative. Artist: It feels very American in a way - you know, reaching for the dream, no matter what. And there's always that hint of melancholy, a knowing that the road ahead won’t be easy. A nice picture on the condition to keep struggling. Art Historian: Absolutely, and to look at such a moving piece with a modern lense reminds us of those very similar and enduring themes. Artist: Yes. In that sense, the “Aspirations” of then continue to invite a lot of thought today!