Aaron Douglas and Alta Sawyer Douglas: Love Letters from the Harlem Renaissance Book

Aaron Douglas's letters to Alta Sawyer were essential for prolonging their relationship, and they conveyed the intimate details of his artistic drive and study, along with descriptions of Harlem Renaissance life and characters. There are very few other intimate descriptions of a young black artist's devotion to his talent, studies, and the contacts necessary for his success. Douglas's exuberant realization that he had arrived at a place and a time in which his artistic expressions and unique imagery could flourish and fulfill his dreams was all-consuming. These letters served two purposes: they revealed his artistic drive, ambition, and artistic development, and they drew Alta inextricably into his life as a permanent partner and champion.