Drummer 1948

Richard Franklin Bartlett created "Drummer" using stone lithography. Bartlett was part of the generation that lived through the Harlem Renaissance, and the emergence of jazz music as a cultural force. This print throws us right into the heart of the jazz age. With a somber monochrome, Bartlett avoids stereotypical depictions of jazz culture, instead inviting us into a more intimate space. "Drummer" gives us access to the atmosphere of a smoky jazz club, full of black musicians, during the time of segregation and racial discrimination. This was a time when black artists were reclaiming their narratives through creative expression. This piece does more than just depict a band; it captures the soul of a community finding its voice through music.