ETERNAL KISS 2010

Rah Crawford created this painting called 'Eternal Kiss' in 2010. Love and natural imagery come together in this artwork, but how might we interpret it in its cultural moment? The artist is African-American, so the painting might be seen to engage in themes of black love and tenderness. This is not to deny universal themes of love, but it is to highlight the ways in which art can address specific communities. In the United States, racial stereotypes have historically denied black men and women their humanity and sensuality. Here, Crawford might be challenging those historical stereotypes. The flowers and thorns around the couple’s heads suggest the difficulties of love, but also point to its naturalness and beauty. The graffiti-like lettering gives it an urban feel and, perhaps, points to the institutional space of the gallery. To understand this artwork better, research into black representation in American art would be helpful, and a study of the artist’s other work could give us further insights into the development of their artistic style.