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The Banjo Lesson
Henry Ossawa Tanner · Realism & Academic
- Artist
- Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859–1937)
- Date
- 1893
- Dimensions
- 124.5 x 90.2 cm
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Location
- Hampton University Museum, Hampton, Virginia, United States
The Banjo Lesson shows an elderly Black man teaching a young boy to play the banjo in a simple cabin. The boy stands between the man's knees, holding the instrument with concentration, while the old man gently supports it.
A closer look
Tanner painted the scene with deep tenderness: the warm light from the fire on the right and the cool daylight from the left meet on the two figures, wrapping them in a soft glow. The interior is humble, with a few dishes, a kettle and a coat on the floor, but the focus is entirely on the bond between generations and the passing on of knowledge and music. At a time when Black Americans were often shown as caricatures playing the banjo, Tanner deliberately offered a dignified, intimate and human image.
More by Henry Ossawa Tanner
Famous works elsewhere
- The Thankful Poor 1894
- The Young Sabot Maker 1895
- Moroccan Scene 1912