In today’s more global society, what does it mean to be American? The word has long been associated

In today’s more global society, what does it mean to be American? The word has long been associated with people living in the United States, but it can also apply to those in any other country in North, South, and Central America. While our galleries of American art for many years have included works from throughout the Americas, we have refreshed them to more fully reflect this broader definition of “American.” In addition, with themes that include cross-cultural influences, racial discrimination, and urbanization, our American Art galleries expand on issues confronting many Americans today.Throughout the twentieth century and beyond, the figurative and narrative traditions in art endured even as international conflicts, civil unrest, freer exchange of ideas, and new waves of immigration led to the emergence of multiple artistic styles. Many artists focused on the human figure, either to portray particular individuals or to engage with social and political issues.Although ostensibly a portrait head of a woman from the Caribbean island of Martinique, this sculpture is one of a number of heads based on Malvina Hoffman’s travels through Africa about 1928. The modernized realism of this work signaled a deliberate break with earlier treatments of African subjects ranging from caricature to romanticism. For many years, however, the critical reception of Hoffman’s work remained firmly embedded in racist language and a Eurocentric point of view. With this larger context, the sculpture therefore raises questions about identity and privilege, intent and interpretation, aesthetic and objective appreciation.Stop by our newly refreshed American Art galleries and see a broader definition of American art on our walls.Posted by Connie H. ChoiMalvina Hoffman (American, 1885-1966). Martinique Woman, 1928. Brooklyn Museum © artist or artist’s estate  -- source link
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