Issued as part of the American Arts series of 1973, this stamp features a portrait of Henry Ossawa Tanner alongside a detail from his masterpiece, "The Banjo Lesson." Tanner, born in Pittsburgh and long a resident of Philadelphia, studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts under Thomas Eakins. Frustrated by the racial prejudice he encountered in the United States, he moved to Paris in 1891, where he achieved significant success. "The Banjo Lesson" is a seminal work of American realism, celebrated for its sensitive and humanizing portrayal of African American life. The painting depicts an elderly man teaching a young boy to play the banjo, a subject that had often been caricatured in minstrel shows. Tanner’s treatment, however, is intimate and respectful, emphasizing the transmission of culture and knowledge. The stamp's issuance was a significant moment in recognizing the contributions of African American artists to the national cultural tapestry.