Name: A Study of Negro Artists
Genre: Documentary
Duration: 51 min
Cast: James Latimer Allen, Richmond Barthé, Aaron Douglas

I once knew many of the artists shown here, since I read Charles Alston's survey of Black artists (published in 1943). That, alas, was half a century ago, and my memory is not great. We get to see many artists and their students at work in diverse media: sculpture, painting, murals, charcoals, prints, and crayons.

It's all part of the Harlem Renaissance near the end of that twenty-year period in which Harlem became the cultural center of Black life in America. Men and women are depicted at work. Peculiarly, many of the men don't bother to put on a smock, but work in shirt, tie, and jacket. I hope they didn't ruin their clothes. Perhaps they thought the damage was worth the sense of dignity. Certainly, unless you're currently interested in these artists, this is a good introduction to the milieu and art.

The documentary is a form of non-fiction storytelling that aims to present factual information, insights, and perspectives on real-world subjects, events, issues, or people. Documentaries can cover a wide range of topics, including history, science, culture, social issues, nature, biographies, and more.

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A Study of Negro Artists

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