Hope is the thing with feathers 2020

Amy Sherald created this portrait, "Hope is the thing with feathers," within a contemporary American context that's still grappling with issues of race and representation. Sherald is known for her distinctive style of painting Black figures in everyday settings, using grayscale skin tones that challenge traditional portraiture. She highlights the complexities of Black identity while questioning historical and cultural representations. Sherald has said that she aims to depict the Black body as, " whole, normal, and real." In "Hope is the thing with feathers," we see a figure in a dress emblazoned with a dove, a symbol of peace and hope. Sherald invites us to consider how hope is embodied, particularly within the Black community. What does it mean to carry hope, especially when social and political realities might suggest otherwise? The painting becomes a powerful statement about resilience, identity, and the enduring presence of hope in the face of adversity.