Smithsonian American Art Museum.

"The American Civil War was arguably the first modern war. Its grim reality, captured through the new medium of photography, was laid bare. American artists could not approach the conflict with the conventions of European history painting, which glamorized the hero on the battlefield. Instead, many artists found ways to weave the war into works of art that considered the human narrative--the daily experiences of soldiers, slaves, and families left...

"Presenting more than ninety illustrations of Douglas?s works and the commentary of leading critics and historians, this book focuses on the artist?s career from the 1920s through the 1940s in relation to American modernism. Its authors argue that Douglas?s bold work opened doors for African American artists in Harlem and beyond, and that it invited a dialogue with modernism that put African American life, labor, and freedom, along with African traditions...