Aaron Douglas [Paige Ruppert]

Aaron Douglas Douglas graduated from Topeka High School in 1917. Douglas went to college at the University of Nebraska for his Bachelor of Arts degree. He studied the life of a German man named Winold Reiss. Reiss's teaching helped Douglas get an idea of modernist type of style. Since Douglas was already aware of the African and Egyptian designs, he later came aware of W.E.B DuBois and Alain Locke. W.E.B DuBois as well as Alain Locke were trying to let the world become aware of young aspiring African American artists who can express their African Heritage through art. Douglas was now a important part of the artist circle that later became known as the Harlem Renaissance. He drew out pictures for books, painted canvases and murals, and tried to start a new magazine displaying the work of young artist and writers. Douglass' type of style for the arts was a modern European, ancient Egyptian, and West African Art. Douglas was best known for somewhat abstract paintings, hard edges, and most of all repeating geometric shapes. He used a lot of the colors that were similar to the shapes and items that he painted pr drew to make things more realistic like. Aaron Douglas died on February 3, 1979, leaving his imprints of those who were young aspiring artist and writers.