A historic painting of Harriet Tubman, commissioned to inspire generations of young Black women, is heading to auction. The proceeds are expected to help secure the future of the historically Black college that has considered the artwork part of its legacy for nearly a century.
Bennett College plans to sell Aaron Douglas’ 1931 painting, which is estimated to fetch between $2.5 million and $3.5 million at a Sotheby’s auction in New York on Nov. 18, according to WFAE. The decision highlights the financial pressures facing historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) as they weigh preserving Black cultural heritage against the need to fund their institutions and support students.
Supporting HBCUs
The painting was commissioned by Chicago philanthropist Alfred K. Stern for Bennett College, a women’s college founded in 1873 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Douglas, a prominent Harlem Renaissance artist, depicted Tubman breaking the chains of slavery and leading others to freedom.
The work also features scenes representing Black independence and self-determination, including a man cultivating his own land and a young Black woman reading.
Its message extended beyond Tubman’s role in helping enslaved people escape bondage. For students at Bennett, the painting represented the possibilities of education, economic independence and the ability of Black women to shape their own futures.
However, the painting has not been displayed on Bennett’s campus for nearly two decades. It has been on loan to the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh since the 2000s because the college lacks the facilities and resources needed to properly preserve and display the work.
The decision to sell followed more than two years of discussions, according to WFAE.
Cassandra Jones Havard, chair of Bennett’s Board of Trustees, said the painting’s significance to the institution would endure even after it changes hands.
“Aaron Douglas’ Harriet Tubman reminds us of the strength and power of women, and proceeds from its sale will help to ensure a vibrant future for the institution and the students it serves,” Havard said in a statement to WGHP.
She expressed hope that the eventual buyer would continue to recognize the painting’s connection to Bennett and its history.
The sale comes as Bennett marks 100 years as a women’s college. The institution plans to use the proceeds to support its future, including its Women’s Health Initiative, which focuses on addressing health disparities and advancing equity in women’s health.
“Celebrating our Centennial as a women’s college has given us an opportunity to both acknowledge our history and look to the future,” Havard said.
Bennett’s decision highlights a longstanding challenge for HBCUs, which have historically operated with smaller endowments, fewer major donors and less financial support than many predominantly white institutions.
Founded to expand educational opportunities for Black Americans, HBCUs have played a significant role in developing generations of Black professionals and leaders. Their campuses and collections also preserve important parts of Black history, including archives, historical documents and works of art.
For Bennett, selling Douglas’ depiction of Tubman means parting with a work closely tied to its institutional identity. But the college’s leadership is betting that the painting’s value can help sustain the mission it was originally commissioned to advance: expanding opportunities for Black women.