Jessica

Charles White

1970

Etching, drypoint, and plate tone in brown ink on cream paper

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Charles White was a prominent twentieth-century artist who celebrated the intrinsic dignity of African Americans to counteract negative stereotypes that too often undermined the values and virtues of Black history and culture. Published in 1970, White’s portrait of Jessica embodies the grace, beauty, and confidence of African American women at a time when Black empowerment was emerging as a social and political force. Within this context, the portrait serves as a symbol of affirmation and resistance, specifically the resistance to cultural suppression and the practice of being defined by others. Here, White depicts his model wearing