Guide me no more 2012

"Guide me no more" (2012) by American artist Amy Sherald is a portrait of a Black man in a formal outfit holding a model ship. His hand is outstretched, the ship is in the palm of his hand, and he is looking directly at the viewer. Sherald's signature style of rendering black skin as a flat, gray tone is evident in the painting, as is her use of a plain background. The muted, yet vibrant, purple background with light pink dots adds to the painting’s enigmatic air. The model ship alludes to the history of slavery and migration, while the figure’s posture and gaze suggests a sense of self-assurance and autonomy.