Aaron Douglas: African American Modernist

One of the most influential artists of the Harlem Renaissance is Aaron Douglas. Influences ranging from cubism to Egyptian wall painting formed his distinct paint and print style. As a graphic artist, he worked for the radical publication FIRE! Most famously, Douglas’ "Aspects of Negro Life" four panel mural colored the walls of the 135th branch of the New York Public Library. His legacy is celebrated in "Aaron Douglas: African American Modernist," a new exhibition at the Smithsonian Museum Of American Art. Accompanying the exhibit is a major monograph of Douglas’ work with essays by David Driscoll and Richard Powell.