A Study of Negro Artists

"Artists short silent film black"

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About this film

Short silent film in black and white on four reels that was created to highlight the development of African-American fine arts. The film features many influential black artists associated with the Harlem Renaissance. The 37-minute motion picture was made by Jules V.

More about this film

About the production

Release date1935

Themes & topics

Historical background

Made in 1935, A Study of Negro Artists reflects production norms of the studio-system peak and early sound decades—shorter runtimes, regional audiences, and limited preservation infrastructure.

Why this film matters

Historians reference A Study of Negro Artists (1935) when discussing 1930 silent film.

Making of

Production details for A Study of Negro Artists (1935) are drawn from archival listings and reference sources; surviving materials vary by title.

What critics said

Retrospective notes on A Study of Negro Artists emphasize its value as a period production rather than blockbuster reception.

Did you know?

  • A Study of Negro Artists is a 1935 short silent film in black and white on four reels that was created to highlight the development of African-American fine arts.

Visual style

Visual style for A Study of Negro Artists reflects period camera and lighting practice documented in surviving prints or stills.

Music

A Study of Negro Artists belongs to the sound or transitional era; music and dialogue handling depend on the surviving print.

What audiences thought

A Study of Negro Artists (1935) reached whatever regional audiences its distributor could access; later interest comes mainly from repertory and online preservation.

Film restoration

A copy or excerpt is available via Wikimedia Commons.

Where to watch

  • Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Study%20of%20negro%20artists.ogv