Singer c. 1976

Ernie Barnes painted this work, called "Singer," sometime in the late twentieth century. It depicts an African American male singing passionately into a microphone under the bare bulb of a dimly lit space. We know that Barnes was an athlete before becoming an artist, and we know his works often portray scenes of everyday African American life. This image offers a look into the world of a blues or jazz performer, perhaps struggling and under-resourced, but still pouring his heart into his music. The setting, with its cracked ceiling and single light source, speaks volumes about the economic realities for many black musicians. Despite these conditions, the singer's closed eyes and open mouth suggest a powerful emotional connection to his art. The microphone, an early model, is a symbol of technology that helps to amplify his voice, allowing him to reach a wider audience. To understand the painting fully, one might research the history of African American music venues and performance spaces, or delve into biographies and autobiographies of blues and jazz musicians. These sources provide valuable insights into the social conditions that shaped the artistic production of the era.