A History of African American Art： Henry Ossawa Tanner—The Annunciation

Henry Ossawa Tanner, who was one of the most accomplished African-American artists of his day, is celebrated for his depictions of biblical subjects using a modernist visual language. This video explores how Henry Ossawa Tanner’s 1898 painting The Annunciation visualizes the Virgin Mary in a moment of spiritual transformation. Developing a visual method that unites realism and mystery, this painting makes the annunciation more immediate and intimate for the modern viewer. Written and narrated by Dr. James Romaine.