Portrait Of Mickalene Thomas, The Coyote 2017

Kehinde Wiley painted this portrait of Mickalene Thomas, called 'The Coyote', in the style of the Old Masters. Wiley is known for placing contemporary Black figures in the context of traditional European portraiture, challenging the historical absence of people of color in Western art. Here, Thomas is depicted with an awareness of both classical portraiture and modern street style. The title 'The Coyote' may reference the Native American trickster figure, embodying adaptability. This challenges the Western, patriarchal narrative of art history. Wiley references the conventions of court portraiture and the Western mythologies and artistic traditions that they evoked. His choice to portray a contemporary Black woman subverts the established norms of art history. By placing black figures in spaces of power and beauty, Wiley questions the politics of representation and opens up conversations about race, identity, and art-historical narratives. To understand more, scholars investigate archival materials, critical essays, and historical studies. Art offers a lens through which we can examine the ever-evolving narratives of our social world.