Portrait of Ella Fitzgerald 1968

Editor: Here we have Beauford Delaney’s "Portrait of Ella Fitzgerald," painted in 1968. It’s strikingly… yellow. A textured, almost dissolving image emerges from the paint. What do you see in this piece, beyond just the immediate impression? Curator: I see a potent invocation of light itself. Delaney was deeply interested in the symbolic weight of light, wasn’t he? The yellow—it isn’t just color; it’s illumination, divinity, and in the African American spiritual tradition, hope and revelation. Fitzgerald, bathed in this almost holy light, becomes an icon. Editor: An icon, yes. I suppose I hadn't thought of it that way. More like an impression, a feeling. Does the expressionistic style add to that? Curator: Precisely. Expressionism sacrifices realistic representation to convey inner states. The dissolving form suggests the ephemeral nature of performance, the way a voice exists only in the moment, leaving a resonating trace. It's cultural memory made visible, would you agree? Editor: That makes sense. The yellow could represent fame too? A spotlight, maybe? Curator: Potentially. Consider though, what colours usually denote those themes, Editor? I would argue Delaney invites us to reflect on something much more profound: the almost spiritual power of Fitzgerald's voice. How she, in her own way, embodied resilience and creativity amidst adversity. He painted this in Paris; think about that context too. Editor: So, it's not just a portrait, it's… a symbol? Curator: Exactly! And the painting operates on many layers: personal connection between Delaney and Fitzgerald, historical moment, spiritual evocation. Symbols always possess a layered resonance, always anchored in human experience. It also encourages us to consider those artists that came before him, particularly Van Gogh with his bold impasto technique, which he has updated in his own individualistic way. Editor: I never would have seen all of that just looking at the painting myself. Curator: That's the joy of engaging with art! There’s always a deeper well to draw from.