Beyond the Canvas: Art, Representation, and the Portrayal of Black American Soldiers

America has a history of challenging the idea of who is capable of military heroism and challenging the selfless service of non-white service members. The ideology of whiteness has created exclusive boundaries around what it means to be American, an American hero, and a patriot by excluding minority groups. In 1992, the U.S. Army established an artist-in-residence position, which designated one active-duty artist to the U.S. Army Center of Military History. The artists’ mission during their tenure is to document the contemporary Army. MSG Peter G. Varisano created several watercolor portraits that disrupted the idea that Black service members had a small presence in American warfighting. The featured artwork of MSG Varisano was intentional in centering Black service members and captures the essence of heroism and selfless service inherent to military service regardless of race.