DIGITAL TOUR: Jerry Pinkney: Imaginings

Their Eyes Were Watching God (1991)

Their Eyes Were Watching God, published in 1937, is the best-known work of African American writer Zora Neale Hurston (1891–1960). The novel traces Janie Crawford’s “ripening from a vibrant but voiceless teenage girl into a woman with her finger on the trigger of her own destiny.” Set in central and southern Florida in the early twentieth century, the novel was initially poorly received for its rejection of racial uplift, a literary prescription of the time. Today, it is regarded as a seminal work, and is included in TIMEmagazine’s list of the one hundred best English language novels published since 1923. The artist sought to capture the essence of Southern life in his imagery, as in this piece, which portrays local citizens effusively sharing stories on the porch of the general store.

After reading Their Eyes Were Watching God, Jerry Pinkney cast his characters with family and friends, including his daughter Troy, who stepped into the role of Janie. After creating initial sketches to establish the action and composition for each piece, he photographed his models, coaching them as they acted out each scene. His photographs were taken with a Polaroid camera, which allowed him quick access to visual reference.