The Met celebrates the artistic traditions of the Harlem Renaissance

The Met's new exhibition, "The Harlem Renaissance and Transatlantic Modernism," explores the artistic developments of the Harlem Renaissance through the works of the period's painters, sculptors, photographers, and filmmakers. The exhibition highlights the diversity of artistic expression during the Renaissance and the global connections that shaped the period's art.

The Harlem Renaissance was a flourishing of African-American culture and politics that occurred during the 1920s and 1930s in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. It was a period of great artistic experimentation and production, as well as a time of political activism and community building. Many African-American artists, writers, and musicians moved to Harlem during this time, creating a vibrant cultural scene that came to be known as the Harlem Renaissance.

The Met's exhibition focuses on the visual arts of the Harlem Renaissance, including painting, sculpture, photography, and film. It features works by well-known artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Aaron Douglas, Jacob Lawrence, Horace Pippin, and Charles White, as well as lesser-known artists such as Margaret Burroughs, Allan Rohan Crite, and John T. Biggers. The exhibition also includes a section on the photographer and filmmaker Léonard Freedman, who documented the Harlem Renaissance through his images and films.

The exhibition is organized into six sections: "Negroes Among Negroes," "The Harlem Habit," "The Sacred Plane," "The Street Becomes a Stage," "The Many Sides of Jazz," and "The Global Imagination." These sections explore the diverse themes and issues that influenced the art of the Harlem Renaissance, including race, religion, gender, and politics. The exhibition also explores the global connections of the Harlem Renaissance, highlighting the influence of European and African art on the period's artists.

"The Harlem Renaissance and Transatlantic Modernism" is a celebration of the artistic traditions of the Harlem Renaissance, and it is a must-see for anyone interested in the history and culture of this important period. It is also a reminder of the continued importance of African-American culture and history in the present day.