“Middle Passage: Voyage through death to life upon these shores,” a poem written by Robert Hayden embodies the message of Moyo Okediji’s “The Dutchman.” Visiting the Ackland Art Museuem, this painting stood out among the collections. At first glance, the painting appears to be a mass of different shapes because of its vibrant colors, however after further observation I felt a connection with the artwork by Okediji’s attention to detail. Closely examining the piece, bodies placed in different manners are recognized. Okediji portrays the misery faced by Africans who journeyed the Mid-Atlantic Trade.
Just as the colors overlap each other in the painting, so do the African bodies. Okediji depicts how Africans were intertwined and one body could not be distinguished from the other. However, the bottom of the painting shows two people on their backs and it appears their drowning. These bodies are interpreted as drowning in the Atlantic. Also, Okediji shows Africans being taken from their motherland, and end up drowning in uncertainty. The bottom left corner reveals two fish licking the Africans. Looking closely, it is clear that the fish have teeth which represent how Africans are bait to potential buyers as Dutchmen offer up Africans to the highest price.
The “Dutchman” at first glance looks like a collage of ripped paper. Once people take a step back these several layers form a story. One can see people who appear to be drowning in an endless sea. The mixture of warm and cool colors such as purple, blue, orange, and red show the contrast of how Africans felt on their journey to a new world. Okediji use the warm colors, such as red, to depict the anger felt by the Africans for being removed from home. Also, show the struggle the Dutchmen faced when confronting the Africans, which is clearly seen as the warm colors are spread out in representation of the aftermath of a battle. The cool colors, however, cover most of the painting to show the sorrow the Africans felt from leaving their home. Although the cool colors, even, show the peace felt for those that do not make the journey to America. In the mist of the bodies laid out across the artwork in the top left corner two white men whose backs where turned away from the chaos that is depicted. Okediji proves in this painting that even the “Dutchman” knew what they are doing as wrong.
Just as the colors overlap each other in the painting, so do the African bodies. Okediji depicts how Africans were intertwined and one body could not be distinguished from the other. However, the bottom of the painting shows two people on their backs and it appears their drowning. These bodies are interpreted as drowning in the Atlantic. Also, Okediji shows Africans being taken from their motherland, and end up drowning in uncertainty. The bottom left corner reveals two fish licking the Africans. Looking closely, it is clear that the fish have teeth which represent how Africans are bait to potential buyers as Dutchmen offer up Africans to the highest price.
The “Dutchman” at first glance looks like a collage of ripped paper. Once people take a step back these several layers form a story. One can see people who appear to be drowning in an endless sea. The mixture of warm and cool colors such as purple, blue, orange, and red show the contrast of how Africans felt on their journey to a new world. Okediji use the warm colors, such as red, to depict the anger felt by the Africans for being removed from home. Also, show the struggle the Dutchmen faced when confronting the Africans, which is clearly seen as the warm colors are spread out in representation of the aftermath of a battle. The cool colors, however, cover most of the painting to show the sorrow the Africans felt from leaving their home. Although the cool colors, even, show the peace felt for those that do not make the journey to America. In the mist of the bodies laid out across the artwork in the top left corner two white men whose backs where turned away from the chaos that is depicted. Okediji proves in this painting that even the “Dutchman” knew what they are doing as wrong.
Okediji keeps the painting interesting because each time a person looks at the painting one can find new images that can create a new story. As mention beforehand, when looking at the picture from away it appears to be random shapes and curves. However with the bright colors: yellow, blue, orange, red, purple, give the artwork motion. Once the person realizes the many faces pointing at different directions show a transition from one place to another. Many of the African faces are looking toward the left away from the Dutchmen. Okediji wants to display the grief of leaving the familiar for the unknown and the longing to return back to Africa. At the same time, the two Dutchmen, previously located; are facing towards the right. Okediji depicts the conscious blindness Europeans had to be unaware of the pain that they caused a whole race of people. Also, show they have an idea that what they are doing is wrong, but do not want to look in the faces of the people they are hurting.
People would argue that Okediji can not relate to the idea of having ancestors sent across the world. Even though Okediji originates from Nigeria, his visit to the United States and growing up as African led him to paint the “Dutchman.” He may not have ancestors that where forced to be slaves in a new world, however, he did have to grow up with stories of tribes turning against each other and helping the Europeans capture Africans and for them into servitude. These stories and the stories he heard while in America constitute for the overlapping affect of his artwork. The “Dutchman” shows that the hurt is the same for the Africans who left and the Africans who where left behind. Okediji clearly shows that pain caused from the Middle Passage is universal because both African-Americans and Africans lost a piece of their identity.
The entire painting has curvilinear lines that help depict the lost identity. By not having any straight lines in the artwork the audience does not have a certain object to focus on. Okediji shows what Europeans wanted when they brought slaves to the ‘new world’ because no one could identify with these people, which made them unknown and not even human. Also, the curvilinear lines display the constant trip Europeans made across the Atlantic Ocean to bring slaves to America. This contributes to “The Dutchman” to appear to be in motion bring it to life. Okediji even uses this wave-like motion to show the uncertainty of a slave’s life. A slave is constantly being sold and/or beaten, so a slave will either die or never call a place home. Okediji uses the curvilinear lines to further express heartache and sorrow that slaves constantly felt from the moment they where placed on a boat.
Moyo Okediji used Robert Hayden’s poem as inspiration for the creation of ‘The Dutchman.” Okediji creates a masterpiece that allows people to come to their own observation. Through the use of different artistic tools, the audience receives a never ending story that does not allow people to forget the turmoil slaves faced on their voyage to America.
“Middle Passage: Voyage through death to life upon these shores,” a poem written by Robert Hayden embodies the message of Moyo Okediji’s “The Dutchman.” Visiting the Ackland Art Museuem, this painting stood out among the collections. At first glance, the painting appears to be a mass of different shapes because of its vibrant colors, however after further observation I felt a connection with the artwork by Okediji’s attention to detail. Closely examining the piece, bodies placed in different manners are recognized. Okediji portrays the misery faced by Africans who journeyed the Mid-Atlantic Trade.
Just as the colors overlap each other in the painting, so do the African bodies. Okediji depicts how Africans were intertwined and one body could not be distinguished from the other. However, the bottom of the painting shows two people on their backs and it appears their drowning. These bodies are interpreted as drowning in the Atlantic. Also, Okediji shows Africans being taken from their motherland, and end up drowning in uncertainty. The bottom left corner reveals two fish licking the Africans. Looking closely, it is clear that the fish have teeth which represent how Africans are bait to potential buyers as Dutchmen offer up Africans to the highest price.
The “Dutchman” at first glance looks like a collage of ripped paper. Once people take a step back these several layers form a story. One can see people who appear to be drowning in an endless sea. The mixture of warm and cool colors such as purple, blue, orange, and red show the contrast of how Africans felt on their journey to a new world. Okediji use the warm colors, such as red, to depict the anger felt by the Africans for being removed from home. Also, show the struggle the Dutchmen faced when confronting the Africans, which is clearly seen as the warm colors are spread out in representation of the aftermath of a battle. The cool colors, however, cover most of the painting to show the sorrow the Africans felt from leaving their home. Although the cool colors, even, show the peace felt for those that do not make the journey to America. In the mist of the bodies laid out across the artwork in the top left corner two white men whose backs where turned away from the chaos that is depicted. Okediji proves in this painting that even the “Dutchman” knew what they are doing as wrong.
Okediji keeps the painting interesting because each time a person looks at the painting one can find new images that can create a new story. As mention beforehand, when looking at the picture from away it appears to be random shapes and curves. However with the bright colors: yellow, blue, orange, red, purple, give the artwork motion. Once the person realizes the many faces pointing at different directions show a transition from one place to another. Many of the African faces are looking toward the left away from the Dutchmen. Okediji wants to display the grief of leaving the familiar for the unknown and the longing to return back to Africa. At the same time, the two Dutchmen, previously located; are facing towards the right. Okediji depicts the conscious blindness Europeans had to be unaware of the pain that they caused a whole race of people. Also, show they have an idea that what they are doing is wrong, but do not want to look in the faces of the people they are hurting.
People would argue that Okediji can not relate to the idea of having ancestors sent across the world. Even though Okediji originates from Nigeria, his visit to the United States and growing up as African led him to paint the “Dutchman.” He may not have ancestors that where forced to be slaves in a new world, however, he did have to grow up with stories of tribes turning against each other and helping the Europeans capture Africans and for them into servitude. These stories and the stories he heard while in America constitute for the overlapping affect of his artwork. The “Dutchman” shows that the hurt is the same for the Africans who left and the Africans who where left behind. Okediji clearly shows that pain caused from the Middle Passage is universal because both African-Americans and Africans lost a piece of their identity.
The entire painting has curvilinear lines that help depict the lost identity. By not having any straight lines in the artwork the audience does not have a certain object to focus on. Okediji shows what Europeans wanted when they brought slaves to the ‘new world’ because no one could identify with these people, which made them unknown and not even human. Also, the curvilinear lines display the constant trip Europeans made across the Atlantic Ocean to bring slaves to America. This contributes to “The Dutchman” to appear to be in motion bring it to life. Okediji even uses this wave-like motion to show the uncertainty of a slave’s life. A slave is constantly being sold and/or beaten, so a slave will either die or never call a place home. Okediji uses the curvilinear lines to further express heartache and sorrow that slaves constantly felt from the moment they where placed on a boat.
Moyo Okediji used Robert Hayden’s poem as inspiration for the creation of ‘The Dutchman.” Okediji creates a masterpiece that allows people to come to their own observation. Through the use of different artistic tools, the audience receives a never ending story that does not allow people to forget the turmoil slaves faced on their voyage to America.
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