Harlem Renaissance

The Harlem Renaissance is invoked as an artistic reference in a recollection that links the narrator’s interest in art with a relationship that also shaped her opportunities to study and make it. The movement is present through the artists she admired and the works she was taken to see, rather than through historical exposition.

Artistic Reference

The narrator recalls that the man took her to New York City to view works by artists she associated with the Harlem Renaissance: Aaron Douglas, Jacob Lawrence, Romare Beardan, Leslie Boiling, and Augusta Savage. The account identifies these artists as favorites, making the trip a concrete encounter with art she already valued.

Place in the Recollection

The visit forms part of a broader account of the man’s support for her artistic development. He bought her art supplies and paid for art classes; she later painted a portrait that sat in his office. The recollection does not describe the artworks seen on the trip or explain the movement’s history, but it places the Harlem Renaissance among the artistic interests around which their relationship took shape.