An Art Analysis of Mickalene Thomas' "Three Graces: Les Trois Femmes Noires"

Three Graces: Les Trois Femmes Noires
by Mickalene Thomas

Photo of Mickalene Thomas

During a video tour of her studio, Mickalene Thomas tells the audience that her work is about “presenting beauty and the black body as reclaiming spaces, saying that you see me, therefore I exist” (YouTube). Mickalene Thomas was trained in classical art, getting her BFA (Bachelors of Fine Arts) from Pratt Institute followed by her MFA (Masters of Fine Arts) from Yale University. Her education taught her about the Impressionists Édouard Manet and Henri Matisse, along with early classical art works which would come to inspire her future pieces (MickaleneThomas). Thomas does not just draw influence from the great artists she studied, but also from 1970’s black popular culture. All of these influences combine in Mickalene Thomas’ "Three Graces: Les Trois Femmes Noires", depicted to the right. By bringing together her classical and African American influences, Thomas is showing that the notions we ascribe to classical art should also be ascribed to African American artwork. In particular, Thomas’ "Three Graces" shows that African American artwork should be a timeless source of beauty like classical art. Furthermore, Thomas’ use of impressionist style implies that, African American artwork already is a timeless source of beauty already to her.

Dreams
by Jacob Lawrence

Photo of African American Bible Quilt
by Rhonda Leigh Willers

In order to understand the message Thomas’ is trying to deliver through her "Three Graces", we must first understand the history of African American art. When Europeans brought Africans to the Americas as slaves, they severed the ties between their slaves and African art. As slaves, they no longer had a culture to call their own. They were now African Americans. That is not to say that they were not still influenced by their African roots, but rather that they were now a distinct cultural group and were no longer defined by their African heritage. While enslaved, there were few outlets for African American artists. They made folk art like the quilt depicted here and wrote some literature, but none of their creations ever left the African American community. History). African Americans quickly formed their own communities within the cities. The most prominent of these communities was Harlem in New York City, which quickly became the cultural center for African American artists of the time. Here artists gathered to hone their craft and to define a “New Negro” through their work. In other words, African Americans had grown tired of their culture being defined by their white oppressors caricatures and misconceptions. Instead, they sought to define their own culture through painting, poetry, theatre, etc (HistoryandtheHeadlines). Even after emancipation, Jim Crow laws and other oppressive acts kept black art out of popular culture. Finally, from 1915 to 1920, more than one million African Americans migrated from their homes in the South towards Northern urban centers to escape the harsh Southern oppression (History). African Americans quickly formed their own communities within the cities. The most prominent of these communities was Harlem in New York City, which quickly became the cultural center for African American artists of the time. Here artists gathered to hone their craft and to define a “New Negro” through their work. In other words, African Americans had grown tired of their culture being defined by their white oppressors caricatures and misconceptions. Instead, they sought to define their own culture through painting, poetry, theatre, etc. (HistoryandtheHeadlines). 

Pam Grier
from boxingkangaroostudios.com

Looking at Thomas’ "Three Graces", you can immediately see the influence of African American art history. Right away, you can see the influence of 70’s black culture through the three grace’s appearance. Their hair, jewelry, and attire all harken back to how African Americans were portrayed in 70’s blaxploitation films. Like the overly sexualized black women from blaxploitation films, the three graces depicted here explore African American’s notions of beauty (TVTropes). In addition to being influenced by 70’s blaxploitation media, Thomas’ "Three Graces" has also been influenced by Harlem Renaissance artists. Thomas uses bright, vivid colors in the background of her mosaic just as many Harlem Renaissance painters did. The Harlem Renaissance is still regarded by many as the pinnacle of African American culture and inspires modern African American artwork today (Study). By including these references to black art history in her "Three Graces", Thomas is trying to make some connection between black beauty and art history.

Ancient Roman Sculpture
of The Three Charites

Ancient Greek Floor Mosaic
by Gnosis

In order to understand the message Thomas is trying to convey about black beauty and art history, we must understand how "Three Graces: Les Trois Femmes Noires" also draws inspiration from Classical art. The Classical art genre refers to the art created by the ancient Greeks and Romans. While the medium would vary from painting to pottery to mosaic or others, these works often dealt with the same content. They generally focussed on characteristics such as “harmony, clarity, restraint, universality, and idealism” and portrayed characters from ancient Greek mythology (Britannica). The first and most obvious connection to classical art is found in this piece’s title. The title, "Three Graces", refers to the three fertility goddesses worshipped by the Greeks and later the Romans. Thomas depicts these goddesses as three black women in 1970’s attire. The Charites, as the Romans called them, represented more than just fertility. They also came to represent beauty and charm. Thus, they came to be associated with the goddess of love, Aphrodite (Britannica). Still today, the three graces are seen as a symbol of beauty. They have resurfaced in artwork time and time again first with Renaissance artists, and then later with Neoclassical art. They have become a timeless source of beauty which artists keep coming back to (Francis). The second and more subtle way that "Three Graces" connects to classical art is the piece’s mosaic style. Mosaic was an enormously popular medium in ancient Greece and subsequently Rome. In fact, countless mosaics of the three graces were made during the classical era. Thomas’ use of mosaic painting and rhinestones emulates the way classical artists would make mosaics with smoothed pebbles (Britannica).

The Luncheon on the Grass
Édouard Manet

Finally, Thomas’ "Three Graces" last inspiration comes from the Impressionist art movement. Impression was the first movement in modern art. It started in late 19th century Paris with Édouard Manet where her grew up studying art. Originally, Manet focused on mastering the aspects of Realism, the most popular art style at that time. As it’s name suggests, Realism calls for the painter to depict their subjects without any loss or addition of detail. Manet, however, quickly grew away from this style towards what would come to be known as Impressionism (Biography). Impressionist works concern themselves less with the minute details of a work, and instead aim to capture “momentary, sensory effect of a scene - the impression objects made on the eye in a fleeting instant” (TheArtStory). These works are characterized by lessened focus on fine detail, increased focus on light sources, and a bright color palette (Clarke). You can observe each of these characteristics in Thomas’ "Three Graces". The background is filled with vibrant colors. The women are proportioned appropriately, but lack the finer detail to make them look like realistic portraits. The sun appears to be setting making the trees and the women’s figures darken and stick out in stark contrast.


By pulling inspiration from so many sources, Thomas has created a powerful message through her "Three Graces". Without her references to African American artwork, Classical artwork, or Impressionist artwork this message would be incomplete. Manet once said “I paint what I see, and not what it pleases others to see” (TheEconomist). With her "Three Graces", Thomas’ is painting the world as she sees it. She does not see Harlem art, 1970’s black popular art, and classical art as separate, clashing art movements. She sees the same notions of timeless beauty, harmony, and universality that are typical of classical art in African American artworks as well. Beyond this, Thomas is saying that these black women are also timelessly beautiful. She is taking the same reverence we have for classical art, and applying it to the form of African American women.

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Clarke, Michael, and Deborah Clarke. "Impressionism." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2010. Print.

Francis, Jane. "The Three Graces: Composition and Meaning in a Roman Context." Greece & Rome 49.2 (2006): 180-98. Cambridge Journals. Web. 15 Apr. 2015. <http://journals.cambridge.org>.