Analysis Of Nightlife

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Nightlife by Archibald John Motley Jr.
During the 1940’s, the world found itself dealing with World War II and in the United States ,a huge African culture movement swept throughout the north-eastern states. One specific artist that captivated the “Nightlife” of African Americans during that era was Archibald Motley Jr. He painted a series of paintings that involved African Americans and their culture. In the painting, “Nightlife” we see a group of African Americans dancing at a club/bar, enjoying life, and swaying their hips to the music. Perhaps, in this painting, Motley wanted his public to notice the breakthrough, blacks had during the 1940’s and wanted to show how music took their mind on a different stroll apart from the troubling issues the world was dealing with. Archibald wanted the world to notice the dynamic and exciting Negro culture.
Archibald Motley Jr. was born in 1891 in New Orleans. Ever since, Archibald was a child he had the desire to be an artist. His family moved to a Chicago neighborhood in the 1890’s, but the family would take frequent trips back to New Orleans in the summer. Later we find out that these two similar settings were the determining factor for Archibald’s paintings. He decided to study art at the Institute of Chicago and was recognized by being one of the few African American artists during that time.
During the 1940’s the world found itself entangled in World War II. However, in the United States, a movement known as the Chicago Renaissance flushed through Illinois. An era of black literature, music and culture began. Specifically, jazz music became increasingly popular and was the popular hit of most hotspots located in Chicago and may other cities in the nation. In the painting Nightl...

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...thin this painting is appealing to the eye. With regards to linear perspective, this painting has a diagonal in which the figures line up and converge to one point.
Overall, the painting “Nightlife” was one of the few paintings that were celebrated to Archibald Motley. Coming from an African American culture, Motley wanted to capture the warmth and richness belonging to their culture. In this painting, we truly discover the heightened tensions felt during that time by the intricate patterns and skeptic perspectives Motley presents. However, by including warm tones such as red and violet, we get the feel of the liveliness and carelessness of the Negro culture through music. We understand that music such as jazz was an escape from everyday racism. Motley successfully executed a painting that sends a message and makes the person wonder the motives for his selections.

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