Aaron Douglas, "Aspiration" oil on canvas, 1936.Douglas, Aaron:

(1899-1979) An African American painter born in Kansas, Douglas was a major figure within the Harlem Renaissance. Douglas was known for incorporating traditional African and African American styles with modern art. He was a part of many magazines published during the Harlem Renaissance by creating illustrations for them.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/arts/douglas.html

Patton, Sharon F. African-American Art. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998. 116-120.