Samuel Joseph Brown, Jr
In February, we celebrate Black History Month—a time dedicated to recognizing, celebrating, and reflecting on the history, achievements, and contributions of Black individuals and communities, while acknowledging the ongoing impact of that legacy today.
Samuel Joseph Brown Jr. was an American artist, printmaker, and educator. He frequently portrayed African American life in his work, creating portraits, landscapes, and prints primarily in watercolor and oil.
Brown achieved international recognition as a master watercolorist, and in this work he turns the medium inward, using flattened forms and matte surfaces to construct a self-image. Set within the deep blue tones of an indistinct interior, the composition evokes a quiet, introspective mood as the artist looks into a mirror, creating an interplay of dual perspectives. Brown appears, improbably, in both profile and three-quarter view: he studies himself in reflection, while that reflected gaze meets the viewer. After earning a master’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of Pennsylvania, Brown became the first African American artist employed by the U.S. government’s inaugural work-relief program for the arts and later worked with the Works Progress Administration in Philadelphia.
P.S. How well do you know the art created by African American artists? Test yourself, and maybe learn something new, in our quiz: Do You Know Your Black American Artists?