This work follows a long tradition of exploring the working poor by African American artists such as Elizabeth Catlett, John Biggers, Charles White, Samella Lewis and others.  Of note is the artist strong commitment to social realism while pursuing modernist goals. Catlett’s observation of African American and Mexicans victims of injustice led her to paint strong images of the proletariat.  The arrangement and colors reflect the type of social commentary as seen in the works of Romare Bearden. Bearden’s exploration of interior space drawn from Dutch 15th artists is seen in his compositional arrangements.  Lofton takes a similar approach creating space by overlapping planes of areas of vibrant color patterns and the stylized abstract figure.  Verticals dominate the pictorial arrangement of the composition. In the 1960s and 1970s Bearden’s colors became much richer and his patterns more vibrant and decorative introducing patterns from patchwork cloth and even including and including actual pieces of cloth in his works.  (Patchwork Quilt, 1970).  The patterns reflect African American quilts where cloth is pieced together to form designs that have significant meaning within the culture.

Signed J. Lofton (script), lower right corner

This work includes frame and certificate of authenticity.