Romare Bearden. You are Dead Forever, 1946. Watercolor and ink on paper, 20.5 x 26.75 in.

"The true artist feels that there is only one art -- and that it belongs to all mankind." -Romare Bearden

William H. Johnson. Old Salt, Denmark, 1931-32 Oil on Burlap, 31 x 25 and 3/8 in.

Many southern African American artists moved north to urban centers to formally study their art. Harlem was especially attractive in this sense: the Renaissance opened the world of possibility and people such as Augusta Savage began to actively train new artists. Other artists, such as Marvin Smith, Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, and William H. Johnson, travelled from New York to places in Europe, most notably France, in order to further their studies in art. Several dabbled in abstract expressionism -- Mr. Smith still tells of his time with Ferdinand Leger and displays photos of his depicting Picasso and his family. In this sense, the move north was something of a formal meeting of cultures. European influences entered strongly into the work of many of these artists and issues began to spring forth in consideration of what constituted "African American" art. As you will see, the response is wide and varied in style and subject matter.