Slow Down Freight Train

Monday nights I allow the Synical Factions to meet at the bar and discuss art. They observe and analyze old art pieces from various museums and archives. They have gained access to numerous knockoffs and photocopied paintings. A few locals call the group the artsy bootleggers, but I however enjoy their company. I even encourage the avid art critics to hang interesting pictures and paintings. Monday night, as I performed my nightly bar stroll after close, one painting caught my attention.

The painting possessed a depressing tone; something different than the other bar’s paintings. The other pictures and paintings consist of ocean waves and pleasant landscapes. People tend to hang paintings and pictures that have a pleasant tone to liven up their moods. Excessive alcohol consumption tends to leave sadden drunks at the bar pouring their hearts out. I have found that maintaining an aesthetic atmosphere greatly decreases this occurrence. As I looked closer, the painting acquired the caption that the majority of art museums post at the painting’s right.

According to the paragraph, Rose Piper’s oil painting Slow Down Freight Train reveals her cubism and modernism interest. The painting’s cubic shapes and simple lines contribute to the painter’s aesthetic goal of simplicity. However, the painting immaculately portrays a hopeful yet forlorn African American aboard a freight train.

The distressed, painted man mournfully watches as the distance between him and his homeland drastically increases. He leaves behind beloved friends, family members, and familiarity. The painter attempts to elicit the same emotions through her painting as a detailed photograph. Like my ma says, “there are deeper meanings to the simple things in life.” The simplicity of Piper’s oil techniques enhances her overall aesthetic goal, to convey a sense of hopefulness yet loneliness.

Slow Down Freight Train surfaced during Trixie Smith’s recording, "Freight Train Blues". This composition illustrated the emotions of African Americans during the Great Migration. Many artists used the blues to convey their feelings and popularize important issues. The Great Migration, the time period between 1913 and 1946, occurred when black men, and sometimes women, moved from the Rural South to the Urban North. The majority traveling were men searching for better and higher paying employment. Once these men earned enough money for accommodations and travel, they would send for their eagerly awaiting families. These transitions proved difficult for both the migrant workers and their families.

The painting utilizes very few colors, mainly yellow, white, black, green and red. The darker colors establish the gloomy, dark aspect of their journey. There was not much room to travel and many feared being caught. Many travelers illegally boarded trains because they did not have money for a ticket. As the man travels alone he is reminded that his family’s future success depends on him. This type of pressure can make anyone nervous and nauseous.

The brighter colors, such as yellow, symbolize hope and success. The window is painted yellow which could be an indicator of a brighter tomorrow. The grass is painted a lush green with shadows of dark power lines towering over the ground. Since the man is headed to the Urban North, land becomes infested by industry and pollution. Pollution has given the sky its darker, murky tent.

Piper also accomplishes her motives by making the black man’s grasp one of the main focuses in the painting. The man has a strong grasp on the freight train which conveys a sense of fear, while one of his legs is the position that would enable him to jump. This aspect of the painting contributes to the painter’s aesthetic goal. The viewer senses the fear and reluctance of the traveler. The travel seems to contemplate rather this is the right decisions for him and his loved ones.

The title of this painting, Slow Down Freight Train, supports this conclusion by illustrating that more time is requested. The man is obviously torn between two decisions and wanting the train to slow down is not an option. He leaves behind everything that is familiar. However, as hard as it might be, he continues to be confined in the freight train by his earnest grasp.

The African American in the painting also looks towards the heaven as he embraces the outdoors. It is likely that he is seeking guidance and help from a heavenly being. His mouth is open which would imply that he is singing. He could be singing a song that reminds him of home or just a tune for entertainment. During this time period blues was extremely popular. These train rides would last for countless hours and some had to travel secretly by themselves with cargo. Since there are no one people in the painting, this could be the case for this particular man.

As in every painting, there are numerous other valid interpretations. The man in the painting could be excited about this new stepping stone in his life. This train ride could serve as a new beginning and opportunity. The look on his face could be a look of awe and wonder. His mouth could be open in disbelief that he has finally reached the land of opportunity, the Urban North. He very well could be leaving a life of turmoil and disappointments.

Reply and let me know what you think! I enjoy reading your comments.