Representations of Black Body in Western Art

Study Notes

Representations of the Black Body in Western Art

Racial oppositions of Black and White derive from the color scale; chiaroscuro is linked to religious dualism of Good and Evil.
Frederic Portal's 1837 book on color symbolism highlighted negative associations of black, describing it as representing error and nothingness.
In ancient Egypt, black symbolized fecundity, linked to the Nile's fertile silt and death, reflecting black's complex meanings.
Black was associated with prime matter in alchemy, rooted in the earth and its elements.

Emotional Expressiveness and Skin Coloration

Early Western Art expressed emotionality through skin coloration, depicting grotesque caricatures to dehumanize certain ethnic groups.
From the 4th to the 14th centuries, black was viewed as synonymous with sin and evil, reinforcing the image of God as white and illuminated.
Saint Augustine warned against conflating color with spiritual identity, yet blackness was intertwined with Christian cosmology, symbolizing antagonism.
Ethnic groups, particularly Ethiopians and dark-skinned Muslims, were allegorically linked with blackness, reinforcing Western associations of whiteness with virtue.

Objectification and Stereotyping of Black People

This association of color led to the objectification of Black individuals and the stereotyping that fixed meanings of Black skin.
David Brion Davis noted that Europeans' impressions of Black people often originated in churches, shaping justifications for their enslavement.

Depictions in Art

The portrayal of the Black wise man in "Adoration of the Magi" during the 15th to 16th centuries reflects realism alongside the rise of the slave trade.
The Black ruler's submission of wealth to Christ signifies recognition of Christian superiority, embedding Black figures as supportive but subordinate in society.
In Andrea Mantegna's "Adoration of the Magi," the representation justifies Black people's marginalization within the societal narrative.

Analysis of Manet's "Olympia"

Manet's "Olympia" contrasts a light-skinned courtesan with a dark-skinned maid, illustrating racial oppositions through visual representation.
Manet's elimination of shadow emphasizes the established racial divisions inherent in the painter's palette, reinforcing the significance of black and white as dual markers.
The phrase "people of color" retains this dual signification, reflecting ongoing societal implications of racial representations in art.

Historical Context

Various artworks, including Samuel Jennings' "Liberty Displaying the Arts and Sciences," Carl Frederick Von Breda's "Instructing a Negro Prince," and Gericault's "Raft of Medusa," contribute to the broader historical discourse on race and representation.
The Centennial Exposition in 1876 underscored the evolving understanding and depictions of race in American art and culture.

Description

Explore the complex interplay of color symbolism and racial representation in Western art. This quiz delves into historical perspectives, such as the chiaroscuro technique and its association with dualism. Understand how these artistic choices reflect broader socio-political narratives.