“Black Girl’s Window” is an assemblage artwork created by artist Betye Saar in 1969. The piece is informed by the Feminist Art and Postcolonial Art movements, reflecting on themes of race, gender, and spirituality.
The artwork is a window-like construct where a dark silhouette of a girl’s head and shoulders is centered in the bottom pane, surrounded by a cosmic array of symbols on her hands and above her. The upper part of the assemblage features a grid of smaller panes, each containing different images and objects. There are moons, stars, and suns, giving a sense of celestial wonder. In the smaller panes, various elements can be seen—a lion, birds, an archaic letter, a portrait, the word “LOVE” in decorative script, and other intimate and mystical symbols. These items, arranged in a manner akin to a personal shrine, evoke a narrative that seems both personal and universal, referencing African American heritage, feminist identity, spirituality, and the complexity of the human experience. The colors are mostly muted with the prominent use of blue and brown hues, except for the starry, colorful touches on the girl’s hands, which bring a vibrant contrast to the silhouette. The silhouette itself serves as a powerful focal point, with the eyes being particularly evocative, gazing directly at the viewer and inviting them into a reflective engagement with the piece.
