Compare and Contrast of Henry O Tanner’s painting "The head of a Jew in Palestine” wit"h Alice Pike Barneys´s painting " The head of a Negro Boy"

For my research I decided to visit the Smithsonian art museum in Washington dc. The Smithsonian art museum has about 3299 art works on display for viewing. I was able to see many great works of art while the art museum. The trip was eye opening. I was exposed to different art techniques with varying use of contrast and depth. I noted the different brush strokes and drawing styles and how they varied between each artist. After viewing many works of art, I decided to compare Henry O Tanner’s painting “The head of a Jew in Palestine” with Alice Pike Barneys painting, “The head of a Negro Boy”

Henry Tanner was a realism painter during the Harlem renaissance. Henry tanner was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1869. He attended school at the academy of fine arts in Pennsylvania. While working on exhibits in Paris, his work began to gain international attention. He was one the first African Americans to receive recognition as an artist. Some of his most popular works of art are “The Banjo Lesson” and “The Thankful Poor” Henry Tanner was the son of a preacher, therefore many of his paintings possess a religious theme. His oil painting “Nicodemus visiting Jesus” won the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Lippincott prize in 1900. In 1923 he was named honorary chevalier of The Order of the Legion Honor. Henry O Tanner died in 1937.

Alice Pike Barney was an American painter. Alice Barney was born in Ohio in the year 1857. Barney came from a family of wealth. Barney was known for her portraits, nudes and landscapes. Initially, she studied painting in Cincinnati with her mentor Elizabeth Norse. She later moved to Paris and began studying art with James Whistler. She was a very influential artist in the Washington DC artistic movement. ...

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...e Barney’s subject was very young; Henry Tanner’s subject was young. Henry Tanner’s portrait is painted as if his subject is standing directly in front of the viewer. Alice Barney’s painted as if her subject was sitting at an angle. Henry Tanner’s painting his extended until the subject’s waist line. Alice Barney’s portrait only includes his face and collarbone. While both artists composed portraits, they used different techniques.

Henry Tanner and Alice Barney were both exceeding talented artists. Great artistic ability can be seen in both “The face of a Jew in Palestine and “the face of a Negro Boy’. While their painting techniques are similar, the two artists have their differences. In comparing these two works of art, I have learned that each artist possesses their own unique way of expressing their talent, even if it is art work of the same medium and style.