Noah's Blog

    Henry Ossawa Tanner,  The Banjo Lesson , 1893, oil on canvas, 49 × 35.5 inches / 124.5 × 90.2 cm (Hampton University Museum, Hampton, VA)                This is an oil on canvas painting by Henry Ossawa Tanner. This art piece was done in 1893 and now resides at the Hampton University Museum in Hampton, Virginia. Initial thoughts on this photo are there is a spot light on what appears to be a dad and his son. The light that appears to be above them reminds me of the light that shine directly down on you at a restaurant booth. The main subject of this photo is a young boy and a older man. They sit on a old worn wood stool. The older man is teaching the young boy how to play the banjo. They sit in a common living area, The walls faded white and floors old worn wood. The front of the art piece is darkened, shadows hit the boy’s face. Behind them the wall and cloths sitting on a table are lit up by ...

James Wooldridge, Indians of Virginia , c. 1675, oil on linen, 75.6 x 108.6 cm (Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art)   https://smarthistory.org/seeing-america-2/america-in-world/  This is an oil on linen art piece done by James Wooldridge originally in 1675. The photo starts with the primary subject being Indians in the front doing daily activities. They are half clothed and arranged around different tasks. A majority gathered around a vibrant fire with illuminating flames that tie in to a dark cloud of smoke going into the sky.These people appear to be socializing and playing music. The others are spaced out cleaning fish, standing around with a bow, and cooking in a wood cut out with a smaller fire. Moving from the front of the painting from the primary subject in the background is a village closed off with sharp wood carvings circled around. The village has houses following the same circular pattern of the wood carvings and then continues this pattern with people ci...