In a rare public appearance Kerry James Marshall briefly discussed his painting ‘Still Life with Portrait’ featuring Harriet Tubman and her husband John. He stated he painted the portrait because he wanted to show her feminine side. A male perspective seems to always default to a woman in a dress and her hair in flowers. What is wrong with the mainstream imagery that we are familiar with? She should be praised regardless of any visual we have of her.
‘Still Life with Portrait’ Kerry James Marshall, 2015