Aaron douglas artist biography

Aaron Douglas pioneered the African-American modernist movement by combining aesthetic with ancient African traditional art. He set the stage for future African-American artists to utilize elements of African and African-American history alongside racial themes present in society. Aaron Douglas was an American painter and graphic artist who played a leading role in the Harlem Renaissance of the s. He illustrated books by Langston Hughes, Charles S. Johnson, and James Weldon Johnson, and he painted murals for the th Street Branch of the New York Public Library. Early years First steps Professional growth Public recognition Peak period Later years Public interest Professional activity Media attention
In both his style and his subjects, Aaron Douglas revolutionized African-American art. A leader within the Harlem Renaissance, Douglas created a broad range of work that helped to shape this movement and bring it to national prominence.