"The Blue Tiger," Horace Pippin, c. 1933-37.
Pippin (1888-1946) was a self-taught Black American artist who took up painting after losing an arm in WWI.
While he never really subscribed to any school of art, he's generally credited as a Modernist, although I generally regard him as a Naive, but in the best way, as someone whose style developed from his personal passions rather than an academy.
His work often depicted Black American domestic life, but also depicted historic scenes (his first known painting is of his last memories of the battlefield; another notable painting is of John Brown going to his execution), religious themes, and various symbolic works.
At the time, a blue tiger was a symbol for something unattainable, and a bear represented the wilderness. But many feel that this painting is a symbol of racial conflict. Sadly we have nothing from the artist himself to hint at …
"The Blue Tiger," Horace Pippin, c. 1933-37.
Pippin (1888-1946) was a self-taught Black American artist who took up painting after losing an arm in WWI.
While he never really subscribed to any school of art, he's generally credited as a Modernist, although I generally regard him as a Naive, but in the best way, as someone whose style developed from his personal passions rather than an academy.
His work often depicted Black American domestic life, but also depicted historic scenes (his first known painting is of his last memories of the battlefield; another notable painting is of John Brown going to his execution), religious themes, and various symbolic works.
At the time, a blue tiger was a symbol for something unattainable, and a bear represented the wilderness. But many feel that this painting is a symbol of racial conflict. Sadly we have nothing from the artist himself to hint at his intention, but there are other paintings that directly address racism and prejudice.
From the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
#Art #NaiveArt #HoracePippin #BlackArtists #SelfTaughtArtists #Symbolism
