Reflections: Thomas Williams Speaks About “Sold”
We recently had the opportunity to speak with Thomas Williams about his latest painting “Sold”. Read below to learn more about this powerful work of art.
Q: When was “Sold” originally painted?
A: “Sold” was created with oil paints on canvas and it was completed in January of 2013. The exact date escapes me right now.
Q: What was the inspiration behind this piece?
A: I wanted to paint something that would represent how it felt to come off the slave ship after it arrived in the United States of America.
Q: Can you explain some of the powerful symbolism incorporated into this work of art?
A: You will see an Enslaved African and behind him you will find the stars and stripes of the United States of America painted in different shades of grey. This represents his arrival to the United States. The chains that keep him in bondage are in the United States of America’s trademark red, white and blue colors because those chains truly symbolize America’s relationship with Black America. You will also notice the words “Sold” and “250 Negroes Arrived”. These represent the Africans that arrived on the shores of Virginia in 1860 that were sold into slavery. The two images that you see in the middle and upper right corner were placed there to further illustrate how these enslaved Africans were treated when they arrived on America’s shores.
Q: I like this a lot. Do you envision creating anymore works with a similar theme?
A: This painting is actually the first of a three-piece series. This limited edition art print features the man, the second will feature his daughter and the third will feature his wife. The chains around their neck will connect them all and when complete, all three prints could be placed side by side to create one large work of art.
Please visit the link below to buy “Sold” by Thomas Williams.
No comments:
Post a Comment