Henry Ossawa Tanner Artist Quotations

The physical characteristics of the child Jesus will always remain a point of discussion. No artist has ever produced a type, nor ever will, that has in it all that the varying minds of all time will acknowledge as complete.

My efforts have been to not only put the Biblical incident in the original setting, but at the same time give the human touch which makes the whole world kin and which ever remains the same.

Many of the artists who have represented Negro life have seen only the comic, ludicrous side of it, and have lacked sympathy with and appreciation for the warm big heart that dwells within such a rough exterior.

I decided on the spot that I would be an artist, and I assure you, it was no ordinary artist I had in mind.

It seemed to me that this might be a great pageant, which would give a chance for a very interesting picture.