Arguably, the three most important documents in American history--the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights and The Declaration of Independence--can be found at The Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C.. In 1776, America’s Founding Fathers signed The Declaration of Independence, explaining their desire for separation from Great Britain. Among other privileges, The Declaration of Independence guarantees Americans “certain unalienable rights” such as “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Consequently, immigrants seeking basic rights and freedoms come to America. Once these needs are met, people can pursue The American Dream, an ideal where Americans have equal opportunity to reach their goals through hard work and
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The painting depicts a dishevelled women, dressed in black, standing in front of a barren tenement building. The color black often symbolizes death, evil and fear of the unknown, as it is a unique mix of all colors. Unlike most of Davis’s other work, Chinatown lacks vibrant colors, indicating that this area of New York City has a shortage of resources and opportunities for its residents. Various faded signs cluster together by the stone surface near the door. One barely legible sign in the window reads “Sum Yet Pleasure,” suggesting that the unkempt woman standing outside makes her living as a prostitute. Furthermore, an outstretched cat sits on the balcony rail near the woman; cats are a traditional symbol of promiscuity. As women do not aspire to be prostitutes, one can assume that this woman uses promiscuity as a survival method, due to a lack of other jobs. Although this woman hoped that her life would improve after immigrating to New York City, her current reality is not what she envisioned. This woman represents the disparity between the ideal of a prosperous life and the hardships one faces when rebuilding their life. Since this woman has not yet reached her goals, it is possible that she will never achieve The American Dream, but a sense of hope will reduce the emotional effects of her journey. Stuart Davis effectively uses both color and emphasis to depict this
The painting depicts a dishevelled women, dressed in black, standing in front of a barren tenement building. The color black often symbolizes death, evil and fear of the unknown, as it is a unique mix of all colors. Unlike most of Davis’s other work, Chinatown lacks vibrant colors, indicating that this area of New York City has a shortage of resources and opportunities for its residents. Various faded signs cluster together by the stone surface near the door. One barely legible sign in the window reads “Sum Yet Pleasure,” suggesting that the unkempt woman standing outside makes her living as a prostitute. Furthermore, an outstretched cat sits on the balcony rail near the woman; cats are a traditional symbol of promiscuity. As women do not aspire to be prostitutes, one can assume that this woman uses promiscuity as a survival method, due to a lack of other jobs. Although this woman hoped that her life would improve after immigrating to New York City, her current reality is not what she envisioned. This woman represents the disparity between the ideal of a prosperous life and the hardships one faces when rebuilding their life. Since this woman has not yet reached her goals, it is possible that she will never achieve The American Dream, but a sense of hope will reduce the emotional effects of her journey. Stuart Davis effectively uses both color and emphasis to depict this