1945, Hale Woodruff, The Art of the Negro: Artists (Study) -- Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York) (special exhibition)
From the exhibition label: While the New Negro movement produced several iconic murals of African American history, The Art of the Negro, a suite of six monumental canvases, is unique in its focus on the history of art. Woodruff sought to inspire students and other visitors to with an appreciation for their African heritage and to portray the cross-cultural sources of African American modern art. In this study for Muses, the sixth panel, a symbolic gathering of leading Black artists and writers is surmounted by personifications of Africa, the largest figure, and Europe and Asia, which flank it from behind. After extended discussions with donors, the final composition was revised to include just the African and European muses, of equal size and seated side by side.
1945, Hale Woodruff, The Art of the Negro: Artists (Study) -- Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York) (special exhibition)
From the exhibition label: While the New Negro movement produced several iconic murals of African American history, The Art of the Negro, a suite of six monumental canvases, is unique in its focus on the history of art. Woodruff sought to inspire students and other visitors to with an appreciation for their African heritage and to portray the cross-cultural sources of African American modern art. In this study for Muses, the sixth panel, a symbolic gathering of leading Black artists and writers is surmounted by personifications of Africa, the largest figure, and Europe and Asia, which flank it from behind. After extended discussions with donors, the final composition was revised to include just the African and European muses, of equal size and seated side by side.