Study for "Great America" c. 1994

This is Kerry James Marshall’s sketch study for his painting "Great America." Immediately, your eye is drawn to the figures in boats at the upper left, with other figures on the ground raising their hands towards them. This composition brings to mind historical depictions of enslaved Africans being transported across the Atlantic. The raised hands are an age-old symbol, crossing cultures, of supplication and hope. The dark lines convey a desperate sense of yearning. We see echoes of this gesture through time, from ancient Egyptian art to Renaissance paintings of biblical scenes. Yet, in those historical contexts, the gesture often carried a sense of reverence or divine connection, starkly contrasting with its significance here. The image is a palimpsest of cultural memory, where the layers of history bleed into each other. The cyclical nature of hope and despair resurfaces, prompting reflection on the complex interplay between historical narratives and contemporary realities.