The Judgement Day 1939

Aaron Douglas made "The Judgement Day" using dynamic shapes and muted tones of purples, greens, and yellows. Imagine Douglas layering these colors on the canvas, wrestling with light and form to create something otherworldly. It looks as though he may have started with diluted washes of acrylic or gouache, shifting and solidifying into the painting we see before us. I can almost see him stepping back, squinting, then leaning in again, brush in hand to make a defining line. It feels emotionally charged, doesn't it? I’m drawn to the figure standing tall. The figure has wings and is holding a trumpet. Are they calling out to the others? What are they saying? They're painted in a semi-transparent way, like a ghost, which adds to the mystery and raises questions about mortality and justice. The painting reminds me of other symbolic painters like Marsden Hartley or even El Greco. All of these artists are in conversation across time, using painting as a language to express really big ideas. It is this constant conversation and exchange of ideas that keeps art alive.