Eartha Kitt (From “Anna Lucasta”) by Charles White
Medium: Wolff crayon on board
Dimensions: 48 5/8 x 27 1/8 in. (123.5 x 68.9 cm)
Credit Line: Private collection. Photo by Ed Glendinning
In a recent blog post about Dr. Kellie Jones, I found this art work by Charles White one of the artist discussed in South of Pico. I absolutely love Eartha Kitt and had to know more about this artwork.
[The drawing above] portrays a young Eartha Kitt playing the role of Anna Lucasta, a young woman from Los Angeles who makes a living on the streets of San Diego after her father kicks her out of his house. Anna seduces many men, eventually finding true love, but her father tries to sabotage her relationship, only giving up on his deathbed. Anna Lucasta was originally produced by the American Negro Theatre Company in Harlem, whose mission was to “to break down the barriers of black participation in the theater; to portray Negro life as they honestly saw it; to fill in the gap of a black theater which did not exist.” Anna Lucasta was adapted for film in 1958, with Kitt and Sammy Davis Jr. in the leading roles.[1] Read here for a back story on the film Anna Lucasta.
Sources:
Image found at [1] : Private collection. Photo by Ed Glendinning
[1] https://hammer.ucla.edu/now-dig-this/art/eartha-kitt-from-anna-lucasta/
Famous Women in Art Kymberli's Art Blog Quick Art History Reads actor African American Art african american artist american artist Anna Anna Lucasta Art art eartha kitt artist Charles white black artist black films black theatre Charles white Contemporary Art dancer eartha kitt female artists history kellie jones kymberli kymberli grant Sammy Davis Jr singer Women Artist writing writing art history
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