Examination of Two African American Artists

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Introduction
Artist refers to broad spectrum wide ranging word that covers activities related to creative art, demonstrating art, and practicing art. Artistic works by the African American artists have played a great role in revolutionizing the scene of the American culture displayed to the outside world. Becoming an artist is an intensive process requiring talent and social recognition through provision of social support. In the early ages, artists in America were selected basing on their race. However, the beginning of the 19th century saw the establishment of Negro movement that advocated for social recognition of the black artists in America. This provided the artists with a platform for expressing their talents through music, writings, and visual artworks on issues related to social, political, and economic conditions facing the blacks in America.
Therefore, this research paper will examine the life history of two famous African American artists in history. The analysis will consider their early lives, education backgrounds and their contributions that led to their social recognition. The research will end with the comparison of the two personalities and come up with a conclusion. The two personalities examined in the research paper are Henry Ossawa Tanner, and Romare Bearden.
Romare Bearden’s Early Life
Romare Bearden is one of the African American artist and writer born in the year 1911 in Charlotte town in North Carolina. At his tender age, Bearden changed his residence by moving to the New York. Bearden artistic work is traceable to his early ages where he began focusing on promoting cooperation and unity between the African American communities. Bearden not only engaged himself in artistic work but also engaged himself in music, literature, history, and theatre performing. Additionally, Bearden is highly recognized for his support towards the upcoming African American artists who possessed varied artistry talents.

Romare Bearden’ Education Life
After moving to New York City, Bearden interacted with various famous scholars at his tender age such as Harlem Renaissance. Bearden attended Peabody High School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania town. He graduated from Peabody High School in the year 1929. In the same year, Bearden joined the Lincoln University, one of the earliest Black Colleges in America. The university was founded in the year 1854 and Bearden was among the early pioneers of the university. Later, Bearden transferred from Lincoln University to Boston University where he worked as an art director for Boston University Student Humor Magazine. Furthermore, Bearden continued his studies to the New York University where he majored on gaining more skills on his artistic work. While in New York University, Bearden studied mathematics, science, education, and art. This saw him graduate with a degree in education and science in the year 1935. His undying quest for knowledge and skills saw him further his studies to Art Students League where he studied under famous arts such as George Grosz. Bearden deepened his skills in political cartoonist in the German popular African American Newspapers. In the year 1950, Bearden travelled to Europe where he studied philosophy at the Sorbonne University.
Romare Bearden’s Work Life
Bearden’s life is filled with many work achievements. The achievements are recognizable throughout his life. Bearden focused on promoting cooperation and unity between African American communities through his artistry skills. In the early 1950’s, Bearden founded the Harlem-based art organization that majorly focused on nurturing young artists and discussing the responsibility and roles of the African American artists in the fight for their civil rights. Bearden was a coauthor and author of several literature books, songwriter, and received National Medal of Arts as recognition for his support to the young emerging talented African American artists.
Bearden served as the art director for the Boston University Student Humor Magazine after transferring from the Lincoln University. His paintings focused on the scenes faced by the African Americans in South America. Between 1942 and 1945, Bearden joined United States Army where he served as front line soldier. Some of his famous paintings that reflected hiss religious artistry include the Golgotha paintings, which represented Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In his later years, Bearden shifted his artistry focus from painting to co-writing and music, which included the Sea Breeze. In the late 1950’s, Bearden concentrated on producing abstract artistry painting. This entailed using oil paints to express the hidden effects society members underwent during the pre-colonial period. Sadly, Bearden died in the year 1988 secondary to complications of bone cancer leaving behind great legacy that will always remain in the world of artistry.
Henry Ossawa Tanner
Henry Ossawa Tanner is one of the most renowned historical African American artists of the 19th century. He was the first artist from his native ethnicity to be recognizes globally. Henry is regarded as one of the realist painters who ever existed in the history of art. He mainly focused on accurate description of various subjects. Some of his most known works include the Banjo Lesson, which focused on his life as an African American artist .
Henry Ossawa Tanner’s early life
Henry Ossawa Tanner was born in the year 1859 in Pittsburgh town, Pennsylvania to Benjamin and Sarah Miller. At his tender age, Henry with his family relocated to various locations since his father was a teacher and a bishop. At the age of 13 years, Henry was motivated to become a painter after seeing a painter working in a Fairmount Park situated near his home. Throughout his childhood, Henry spent most of his time painting and constantly drawing and relating them to paintings in the Philadelphia galleries .
Henry Ossawa Tanner’s Education life
In 1878, Henry Ossawa enrolled in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts where he perfected his painting skills. He studied under famous artists such as Jean-Paul Laurens and Joseph Benjamin Constant who greatly influenced Henry’s artistic skills and mastery of the essential basics of painting. Despite the little prevailing opportunities for studying, Henry used his skills to express the challenges underwent by the blacks in America during this period. Additionally, he used his paintings to express the cultural diversities that existed between the black and the white communities. Henry studied Gustavo Courbet in Paris that equipped him with skills of painting people in their ordinary environment.
Henry Ossawa Tanner’s Work in Life
One of Henry’s artistic works that is well known globally is the Banjo Lesson, which focused on the religious aspects that existed in the American society. His work is identifiable in the Philadelphia zoo where he painted animals and marine scenes. Additionally, he performed various solo in America and Paris between 1889 and 1897. Henry continued painting until mid-1937 when he died in Paris France. However, his work still receives the acclaim it deserves to the present time .

Discussion
The two personalities share almost similar artistry life history and achievements. The environment setting where the two are brought up differs. Winfrey is brought up in an environment full of hardships as compared to Henry Ossawa Tanner. However, it is because of the challenges prevailing at their time that promotes their regional and global recognition. Both artists have played a great role in contributing to the history of art in which the current art is based. Therefore, despite the differences between the areas of specialization between the two personalities, their achievements illuminate light on the challenges that existed in the pre-colonial era and the struggles such individuals made to realize their liberalization. The analysis of the two personnel has shown that, artistry is a talent that requires careful nurturing to realize its importance .
Conclusion
From the analysis of the two artists, it is evidently clear that artistry plays a greater role in the current society. Artistry portrays the current challenges faced by society members and effects it has on the lifetime goals. Additionally, it shows that artistry can be used to express cultural, political, and social issues affecting people in the society. Thus, society should come up with measures aiming at enhancing the provision of amble environment that promote exploitation of talents existing among the artists.

Bibliography
Bearden, Romare, Ruth Fine, and Jacqueline Francis. 2011. Romare Bearden, American modernist. Washington [D.C]: National Gallery of Art.
Greenberg, Jan, and Romare Bearden. 2003. Romare Bearden: collage of memories. New York: Harry N. Abrams.
Mathews, Marcia M. 1994. Henry Ossawa Tanner: American artist. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Mosby, Dewey F., Henry Ossawa Tanner, Darrel Sewell, and Rae Alexander-Minter. 1991. Henry Ossawa Tanner: catalogue. Philadelphia, PA: Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Samella S. 2003. African American art and artists. Berkeley: University of California Press.