The Banjo Lesson: Uncle Tim's Compromise On Christmas

Henry Ossawa Tanner was an African American painter that created his artwork on a canvas, The Banjo Lesson in 1893. Tanner's portrait showcases an elderly colored man teaching his grandson how to play the banjo. The Banjo Lesson was similar to the short story, “Uncle Tim's Compromise on Christmas”, by Ruth McEnery Stuart (1849–1917), which appeared, with Tanner's illustration, in Harper's Young People in 1893. Stewart portrait of the banjo lesson was in black and white shown in Figure 1. Also, her masterpiece represents an old man giving away his banjo to his grandson on Christmas. The Banjo Lesson current location is at Hampton University Museum,Virginia. In addition, The painting was originally created in Philadephia while Tanner visited

Tanner move with his family in Philadephia for better a life. At the age of 13, Tanner went to African American art convention in Philadephia he fascinated by the beauty of black art. Tanner wanted further his dreams in artistic world by attending college in Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Tanners he was the only African-American student that went PAFA his creative expertise was undefined by the color his skin. During this time African American were struggling to find their own passion and identity in art, so Tanner went Paris to fulfill his dreams. Tanner knew Paris would expect his art for his creative and ambitious drive in his artwork, not judging him by the color of his skin. In addition, he attends Academic Julian Arts which represent his art pieces very well the Banjo Lesson. This led him to be the first African-American painter to gain fame in Paris, France. However, the Banjo Lesson was biblical scenes of everyday lives of African American struggling to succeed in a prejudice world. For instance, Tanner uses his paint brushes represent positive messages on African American families, similar to the grandfather and his Grandson using the banjo represent hard work and