The Blues Singer
1928
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1928
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
The Blues Singer is a 1928 by Russell T. Limbach, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This black-and-white scene shows a dimly lit theater stage. A woman in a loose dress stands center stage, holding a microphone. Behind her, three men sit at a table, their faces blurred, while others watch from the audience. The stage is simple, with a sign that reads "Folk" and a spotlight on the singer. The artist used strong contrasts between light and dark to focus attention on the performer. The faces in the crowd are barely visible, making the singer stand out even more. Next, check out chiaroscuro to see how this lighting trick works.
The singer in this image resembles Bessie Smith, the famous blues singer of the 1920s.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Russell T. Limbach (1904–1971) was an American artist, born in Massillon.
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