Imani
Becoming Visible: Reclaiming Black Identity in Western Portraiture
For centuries, Western portraiture has preserved the image of the “ideal person”– wealthy, powerful, and most importantly, White. Black presence was often controlled, visible only when it reinforced White status, and erased or altered when Black representation no longer served that purpose. Historically, portraiture actively influenced who deserved permanence, humanity, and dignity. In light of this erasure and repression, how have Black artists used portraiture as a tool to subvert existing narratives of power? Learn about works of artistic resistance by Black contemporary artists. By reclaiming the tradition of Western portraiture, Black artists continue to convert a system built on invisibility into one that produces visibility.
WATCH HERE
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For centuries, Western portraiture has preserved the image of the “ideal person”– wealthy, powerful, and most importantly, White. Black presence was often controlled, visible only when it reinforced White status, and erased or altered when Black representation no longer served that purpose. Historically, portraiture actively influenced who deserved permanence, humanity, and dignity. In light of this erasure and repression, how have Black artists used portraiture as a tool to subvert existing narratives of power? Learn about works of artistic resistance by Black contemporary artists. By reclaiming the tradition of Western portraiture, Black artists continue to convert a system built on invisibility into one that produces visibility.
WATCH HERE
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A college preparatory boarding school for grades 9-12
Thacher is committed to maintaining an atmosphere of respect and dignity free from harassment. Our school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age, disability, or any other characteristics protected by state or federal law in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, tuition assistance, and athletic and other school-administered programs, or any other basis in law.