Media Effects/Theme Affects
Discussion through works of art encourage how to approach ambiguous and complex ideas, thoughts, and feelings. The MFAH offers a democratic space where students and teachers can develop, practice and articulate these habits of mind. Remember that the quality of the conversation is what is important, not finding the artist’s “answer.” Slow down and take the time to make careful observations. Talk about what you notice, and try to avoid jumping to conclusions and interpretations. Be sure to give enough time for silent looking and thinking.
Work of Art
Born in Chicago in 1918, Charles W. White used his paintings and drawings to explore themes from African-American history. During the late 1930s, he was among the first artists to depict African-American heroes and the struggles of the African-American people. White’s extensive education included the Art Institute of Chicago, the Art Students League in New York, and Taller de Gráphica (Graphic Art Workshop) in Mexico. An artist of considerable renown, he also taught at the South Side Community Art Center in Chicago and at Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles. White served on the executive boards of the Black Academy of Arts and Letters, the National Conference of Artists, and the National Center of Afro-American Artists. His work has been exhibited in dozens of exhibitions and is included in the permanent collections of museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York; the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.; and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Many of White’s history scenes were created as large-scale murals. However, after his health began to fail, the artist moved to southern California and turned his attention toward drawing and printmaking. He continued to focus on the themes of struggle, courage, and triumph over adversity, particularly with regard to African-American history. White’s large charcoal and ink-wash drawings on paper, such as The Four Faces of Man, are deeply rooted in his previous work as a muralist, but these later works also present a boldness and intimacy not present in the artist’s mural paintings.
The four male figures in The Four Faces of Man provide a generational review of the African- American male, conveying a sense of dignity, suffering, quiet success, and longing. The figures embody the defiant spirit of the African-American people in the face of hardship and struggle.
Although Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism, and Conceptualism were the critically extolled art styles of the mid-20th century, White believed that art should communicate to the viewer in a clearer and more direct way. He chose to focus on realism and the figure for his propagandist art, intending his message to be accessible to a broad spectrum of society. White’s work encapsulates the pain and suffering of the African-American people while celebrating their ability to overcome and prevail in the midst of racism, bigotry, and struggle.
Conversation
Subject Matter
Coming soon
Assessment
• Charcoal has a highly distinctive effect, tending to create a very soft and almost atmospheric finished drawing. Explore various media—such as pencil, oil pastel, and pen and ink— to compare the effects of each. How does White’s choice of charcoal add to the effect of this image?
• Consider the themes of White’s work, such as struggle, courage, and triumph over adversity. What other artists, African-American or otherwise, explore these themes in their work? Explain.
• Compare this work to Standing Mother and Child, 1978, a sculpture by Elizabeth Catlett. What characteristics does Catlett emphasize to define the African-American woman? What does White emphasize to define the African-American man?
Resources
Resources Available to Order
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