A landmark painting by Harlem Renaissance artist Aaron Douglas will be offered at Sotheby's modern art auction in New York on November 18. The 1931 work, Harriet Tubman, is estimated to sell for $2.5 million to $3.5 million--a new high estimate for a Douglas painting.
Bennett College, a historically Black women's college in Greensboro, North Carolina, is selling the work after more than two years of deliberation. Proceeds are intended to support the college's future and initiatives including its Women's Health Initiative, which aims to advance health equity.
Measuring six feet wide, the painting depicts Tubman breaking a chain as others look on. Douglas portrayed her as a leader pressing toward a new day. The work reflects the artist's distinctive visual language, shaped by bold geometric forms and African motifs, and the cultural vision of the Harlem Renaissance.
The painting is especially rare on the auction market. Douglas's current auction record is $600,000, set in 2008, while this work's estimate is several times higher. It will be publicly exhibited at Sotheby's New York headquarters beginning November 7.
By directing the sale's proceeds toward women's health and education, Bennett College is linking a significant work of American art to its mission today. The decision also points to how cultural collections can help sustain institutions and support future generations.
