'I will preach with my brush.' -Henry Ossawa Tanner (Born today, 1859 – May 25, 1937) First African-American painter to gain international acclaim. The Banjo Lesson is a beautiful demonstration of light and composition. An older man sits in a chair with a boy of about seven on his lap. Together they hold a banjo. The body of the banjo is perfectly placed to follow the rule of two thirds. Focal points are less interesting in the direct center. The grandfather’s face is gentle as he looks downward to watch the boys fingers run across the strings. The young boy is sandwiched between the legs of the aging man; his feet rest on the wooden floor. There is a homey feel in the rustic surroundings that are made of warm browns, yellows and washes of light. The scene is set in a small one room fire lit country cabin. The light comes from the fireplace, though not shown, on the viewer’s right and shines on the boy and his grandfather. Behind the couple is a table with dishes ready for a meal. In the forefront there is a kettle and pot, with a skillet off to the right. Behind his foot is the old man’s hat. Lonely in the corner, there is chair waiting for someone to enter, sit down, and join the lesson. Tanner expertly captures the realism of poor African American life. This was the first time a painter had successfully captured the way light hits the rich tones of African American skin. This painting is an important part of American history because of the racial atmosphere during the time it was painted and the history of this banjo. Black families were striving to be humanized in the public eye or realm and taken beyond the prevalent images left over from slavery. This painting argues against the stereotypical ideas that white America held at the time it was painted. A true image of black family tradition is evident. In that moment so much more than a music lesson passed between a grandfather and grandson. Love, patience, and history are passed in these moments. The painting symbolizes how lessons are passed from each generation to the next. This passing of knowledge from the old to the young could have just as easily been applied to cooking, sewing, or farming. However, it is particularly powerful with the inclusion of the banjo. Tanner has reclaimed an instrument that came from Africa and yet became a stigma to black culture. Tanner had brought a piece of African history and put it back into the hands of black culture. The banjo is from the Senegambia region of West Africa, and has not been truly associated with the African American population since the early 1900’s. Documents, letters and diaries chronicle the life of the banjo and place it second to the fiddle as the chosen instrument of slaves. For roughly one hundred years the banjo was played only by slaves. Many older African Americans would not openly discuss the fact that the banjo was part of their musical past. For many, the stringed music maker is not a memory to be treasured. At the end of the 1820’s, the opinion of the banjo was forever altered when it became a symbol of mockery on the minstrel stage. Henry Ossawa Tanner’s The Banjo Lesson demonstrates the gentle love of family and musical tradition passed to children in black family life. The Banjo Lesson demonstrates Tanner’s skill with color, light, and shading. He masterfully teaches how light hits African American skin. The banjo’s painful history reminds African Americans of humiliation suffered during the rise of minstrel entertainment. The banjo’s musical heritage began in Africa and came to America with slavery. White America took what was beautiful and created a symbol of mockery. Knowing the history of the banjo amplifies our understanding of the relationship between the two subjects in this painting and what the grandfather was truly sharing with his grandson.
Posted on: Fri, 21 Jun 2013 19:33:12 +0000
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