Emma Amos

Diver and Dolphin

From the history of the transatlantic slave trade to more recent experiences of segregated pools, many African Americans have a complex relationship to water. Artist Emma Amos recalled being told to stay out of the water to prevent her hair from becoming knotted. In Diver and Dolphin, Amos addressed these experiences by depicting a Black swimmer alongside a dolphin, the fastest marine animal. In doing so, she empowered the subject of the painting, who boldly dives into the unknown. Even as a self-proclaimed non-swimmer, Amos saw “the kindness of water as a cushion” and a representation of the feeling of letting go. Therefore, the viewer might also read this figure’s elegant dive across the canvas as an expression of freedom.