Doll: Black Mama c. 1938

Jacob Gielens' "Doll: Black Mama" (c. 1938) is a watercolor illustration of a traditional African American doll. The doll is depicted in a standing position, wearing a white dress with a plaid skirt, a white apron, and a pink headscarf. The doll's facial features are exaggerated, with large black eyes and a wide smile, reflecting the stereotypical representations of African American women in the early 20th century. Gielens, a Dutch artist, documented various folk traditions through his drawings and watercolors. This illustration reflects the history of African American dolls, which were popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often embodying racist caricatures.