Object Details
- Artist
- Carl Van Vechten, 17 Jun 1880 - 21 Dec 1964
- Sitter
- Augusta Savage, 29 Feb 1892 - 26 Mar 1962
- Exhibition Label
- Born Green Cove Springs, Florida
- In 1923, an American fellowship committee rejected Augusta Savage’s application to study sculpture in France, claiming that white Southern students would object to her race. Understandably outraged, Savage demanded, “How am I to compete with other American artists if I am not to be given the same opportunity?”
- Six years later, Savage went to Paris on a different fellowship. Her work progressed rapidly as she experimented with materials and styles. She collected examples of African art and hired a model of African descent for a group of sculptures representing Amazons.
- After returning to the United States in 1932, Savage produced her most famous work, The Harp, for the 1939 World’s Fair. It was inspired by the lyrics for “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by her friend James Weldon Johnson. Savage was discussing ideas for a memorial to Johnson when Carl Van Vechten took this somber photograph.
- Nacida en Green Cove Springs, Florida
- En 1923, un comité de becas estadounidense rechazó la solicitud de Augusta Savage para estudiar escultura en Francia, alegando que los estudiantes blancos sureños se opondrían debido a su raza. Lógicamente indignada, Savage les increpó: “¿Cómo puedo competir on otros artistas estadounidenses si no me dan las mismas oportunidades?”.
- Seis años después, Savage fue a París con otra beca. Allí progresó rápidamente a medida que experimentaba con materiales y estilos. Adquirió ejemplares de arte africano y empleó a una modelo de ascendencia africana para un grupo de esculturas de amazonas.
- Tras regresar a EE.UU. en 1932, Savage produjo su obra más famosa, El arpa, para la Feria Mundial de 1939. Se inspiró en la letra del himno “Lift Every Voice and Sing” (Elevad las voces y cantad), de su amigo James Weldon Johnson. Savage exploraba ideas para una obra en conmemoración de Johnson cuando Carl Van Vechten tomó esta sombría foto.
- Credit Line
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
- 1938
- Object number
- S/NPG.95.379
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Copyright
- © Estate of Carl Van Vechten
- Type
- Photograph
- Medium
- Gelatin silver print
- Dimensions
- Image/Sheet: 25.3cm x 20.2cm (9 15/16" x 7 15/16")
- See more items in
- National Portrait Gallery Collection
- Location
- Currently not on view
- National Portrait Gallery
- Topic
- Interior
- Augusta Savage: Female
- Augusta Savage: Arts and Culture\Visual Arts\Artist\Sculptor
- Augusta Savage: Arts and Culture\Visual Arts\Art instructor
- Portrait
- Record ID
- npg_S_NPG.95.379
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4b1337775-dfca-4f8b-9591-6e6d1055ef56
