Study for Portrait of Julius Hemphill I
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
graphite on paper
Dimensions
sheet: 21.59 × 27.94 cm (8 1/2 × 11 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of the Artist in Honor of Harry Cooper and Julius Hemphill
Accession Number
2021.43.1
Art Historical Context
"Study for Portrait of Juliusphill I" is a delicate preparatory drawing by Oliver Lee Jackson, created in 1973. This work on paper captures the artist's initial explorations for a portrait of the esteemed saxophonist and composer Julius Hemphill, Jackson's keen interest in honoring influential figures from the jazz world. Measuring a modest 8 1/2 × 11 inches, its intimate scale invites viewers to appreciate the thoughtful process behind larger compositions. Rendered in graphite, the medium allows for subtle tonal variations and expressive linework, hallmarks of a skilled draftsman's hand. Suc...