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Monday Morning Mystery 112519
Another art-related mystery, courtesy of the excellent Morris Art Museum in Augusta, Ga., which I visited earlier this month.
The painting above is entitled "The Sunny South," by an anonymous artist, painted during Reconstruction. You can see the painting online here.
I think that the birds in the painting (enlarged below) are a key to its meaning. Can you identify them? Do you think they symbolize something? If so, what?
2 comments
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I correct myself. The song Mr. Bojangles was written in the 1960’s so it can’t possibly refer to the painting. I always assumed that the song was an old folk song. Guess I win the Turkey this year!
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On one level, I thought the birds symbolized the many needy black(birds) overwhelming the doves of peace following the Civil War. Then I looked around a bit and learned that minstrel groups were popular during Reconstruction, one of which was called The Blackbirds that lasted many years. One of the leaders of The Blackbirds was named Bill Robinson otherwise known as Mr. Bojangles. When you look back at the painting there’s his dog that “up and died”. I think the painting is of Mr. Bojangles.
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2 comments
Pat Price
I correct myself. The song Mr. Bojangles was written in the 1960’s so it can’t possibly refer to the painting. I always assumed that the song was an old folk song. Guess I win the Turkey this year!
Pat Price
On one level, I thought the birds symbolized the many needy black(birds) overwhelming the doves of peace following the Civil War. Then I looked around a bit and learned that minstrel groups were popular during Reconstruction, one of which was called The Blackbirds that lasted many years. One of the leaders of The Blackbirds was named Bill Robinson otherwise known as Mr. Bojangles. When you look back at the painting there’s his dog that “up and died”. I think the painting is of Mr. Bojangles.