Aaron Douglas (1899 - 1979) American. Etching Signed A/P. Measure 6 1/2"in H x 12"in W and 12"in H x 18"in W with frame. Aaron Douglas is widely recognized as one of the leading American artists of the twentieth century, and a major figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Originally from Topeka, Kansas, Douglas earned his BFA from the University of Nebraska and briefly worked as a high school art teacher. Feeling that he had a higher calling, Douglas moved to New York City in 1925 to be part of the exciting cultural movement spearheaded by the teachings of Alain Locke, an African American philosopher and social activist. The "New Negro" movement put forth by Locke promoted self-respect and pride among black Americans, and the enormous creative outpouring that resulted became known as the Harlem Renaissance.In 1931, Douglas received a grant to study in Paris. While there he took classes at the Académie Scandinave and began to work in a more naturalistic style, including portraits and landscapes. He received a second grant in 1935 to travel to Haiti and through the Southern states. This trip served to strengthen his dedication to promoting social change for his fellow African Americans, and he actively sought to obtain WPA recognition for black artists throughout the Depression. In 1937, Douglas began to teach art classes at Fisk University, a historically black college located in Nashville, Tennessee. He accepted a full time professorship at the school after earning his MFA from Columbia University in 1944. Douglas taught at Fisk and served as the art department chair until his retirement in 1966.

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