BLACK IS THE COLOR

Directed by : Jacques Goldstein

Just as the first African-American U.S. president is coming to the end of his second term, America has finally woken up to “Black” painting.

Works by African-American artists are now on show in the most prestigious museums, and their paintings are selling for fortunes at auction. Yet for over a century these artists were ignored by galleries, looked down on by the critics and as a result remained largely anonymous to the general public.

“The Colour of Art” tells the story of these men and women’s long struggle to forge an image of Blacks that broke with the typical racist caricatures and exploded the deep-rooted prejudice in the American collective unconscious. From the 19th century onwards the goal of African-American painters was to reclaim ownership of their image, and this remains the goal of today’s artists too.

The film juxtaposes works of art with the historical documents and footage of the major moments in this battle, and features interviews with the young artists, curators and collectors who have played their part in this hard-earned recognition.

But although this was an undeniable achievement, has America really laid its demons to rest? Racist stereotypes are as powerful as ever: a young African-American man today is just as likely to catch a bullet from the police in 2016 as he was to be lynched in 1916. Will African-American art be able to disconnect itself from the issues that gave rise to it? Nothing is less certain.

fiche technique

Author : Daniel Soutif & Jacques Goldstein

Photography : Julien Bossé

Co-producers : Bachibouzouk / Laurent Duret

Sound : Kip Sturm

Manager of production : Anne Le Grevès

Editing : Jacques Goldstein

Original soundtrack : Patrick Goraguer & Zarma Sodi

Mixage : Studio de Belleville

Producer : Les Films d'Ici

Partners : PROCIREP/ANGOA, ICI ARTV, Shy Arts New Zealand, Panos Kouanis, HELLENIC PARLIAMENT TELEVISION CHANNEL & RSI (Radiotelevisione svizzera Silvana Bezzola Rigolini)

Langue : Français & Anglais

Available version : Anglais

Broadcaster : Arte

Length : 52'

Format : HDCAM

ISAN : 0000-0004-2717-0000-2-0000-0000-V

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