Verbal Description: Aaron Douglas, Emperor Jones

Aaron Douglas’ Emperor Jones (1926) is a woodcut. There are four sheets, each measure 8 inches in height and 5 1/2 inches in width. Each measure 20.5 centimeters in height and 14 centimeters in width. Though there are 4 sheets that make this work, I am providing a visual description for only one sheet.

This printed woodcut image is black on white paper. In the center is a male figure. His body faces forward but his head is in profile facing our left. His head is black except for the white of his eye that is a vertical slash with a thin black line denoting the pupil. His mouth is slightly open. The shape of the top of his head reflects the curl of his hair. He wears a broad-shouldered military jacket with white details. The jacket’s collar on our right stands up—with a white collar seen behind the jacket’s stiff black collar. It covers the bottom of his left jawline. There are five white buttons visible on the front of his jacket. Four are double breasted with one lone button placed below the two buttons that form a column on our right. Below that single white button is a small white triangle that points to our left. There is a thick white belt cinching his jacket at the waist. It is held in place by thin black belt hooks. The flaps of his black jacket flare out from below the belt and fragments of his white shirt are visible below the flaps. The jacket is cut high on his thighs. His right arm is bent at the elbow and his long forearm extends to our left and in his right hand he holds a pointed gun. His left arm hangs close to his side. His long legs are spread apart and both legs are bent at the knees with each knee pointing to their respective side. He wears knee high boots that are wide at the top. The boots are pointy and have a high heel. The toe of his right boot points to our left – the toe of his left boot points to are right. His feet stand atop three wavy lines. Below the top wavy line are two fish swimming to our right. The figure is surrounded by leaves and plants. Leaves of different shapes and sizes frame the figure from the top and from the sides. The leaves start sprouting from the first wavy line on which this figure stands. In the wide space created by his open legs is a large leafy plant.