The Female Banjo Lesson

Title: The Female Banjo Lesson
Description: This challenge was inspired by the Getty Museum during the pandemic. I used items of mine and my family members and stayed in a safe location. To imitate this artwork, I had to gather some items from home and family members. I am pictured with my six-year-old cousin Mikaela, my mother's vase and candle, my grandmother's pitcher, and my grandfather's guitar. I had to go to my family church to have enough room and access to the guitar. My grandfather took the picture for me and I tried to edit the photo to give it a hazy look. I used a dining room in the church, removed all the extra tables and chairs, and periodically laid everything out according to the picture as best as possible. The artist I imitated was Henry Ossawa Tanner. He created 'The Banjo Lesson' in 1893. I chose this artwork because I wanted to imitate a piece by an African American artist, picturing African American(s). I originally chose an artwork of an African American woman posing in front of a wall with an orange dress, but I thought it would be too boring. I realized this artwork was a piece I could do with my own resources. This artwork was somewhat aesthetically pleasing because my grandfather tried to teach me a few notes on his guitar when I was younger, but this picture was easy as well. This was created as an assignment for Susan Ludeke's ART 1910: Art Appreciation course.
Coverage: North Carolina
Creator: Harper, Xaniah
Date: 01/30/2021