I really dig this The Thankful Poor painting done by African-American painter Henry Ossawa Tanner in 1894. It shows the harsh realities of a poor life. [Compare it with the opulence of other paintings].

I just love the stark simplicity of it. The realness. No putting on of airs.

Influenced by family friend, Robert Douglass, Jr., a successful black artist in Philadelphia, Henry was the first African-American painter to become internationally famous.

#art, #henryossawatannerart, #africanamericanart, #americanart, #thankfulpoor, #artlife, #arthistory