"The Beauty of the African and the Afro-American": the Visual Arts
Some of the most colorful and memorable visual images we have of the Harlem Renaissance were created by the painters, sculptors, and photographers who were active during the 1920s. While African American writers, dramatists, and musicians were exploring their black identity, tapping into their rich cultural heritage, and forging new paths of their own, visual artists were doing the same thing. But before reaching the exciting years of the Harlem Renaissance, they had to overcome many obstacles to even practice their art forms.
Early African American Artists Faced Obstacles
During the long period of slavery in the United States, African Americans with talent in the visual arts were not considered "artists." They could not pursue art as a career, nor could they obtain the training and education necessary to hone their skills. In the years before and after the Civil War (1861–65), the talent of African American visual artists was poured into practical skills and crafts such as ironwork, cabinetmaking, quilting, and silversmithing. Black artisans produced useful objects for the homes of white people (and, in some instances, their own homes) and often gained some status or recognition for their abilities.
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