James V. Herring is primarily known as the founder of the Howard University Art Department. As an artist, Herring followed academic trends that were prevalent in early twentieth-century American art. Newport Scene presents a traditional seaside vista, using popular Impressionist treatment of light and reflection. Although the Impressionist movement began as a radical departure from academic painting, by the early twentieth century it had become established as a part of the Western tradition. Herring and many other African American artists used this vocabulary to express their artistic vision and establish themselves as viable participants in a long-standing and widely accepted artistic tradition.   A. L. C.