Memory and Metaphor: The Art of Romare Bearden 1940-1987

by Mary Schmidt Campbell, Sharon F. Patton, Romare Bearden

This catalogue documents a retrospective exhibition on the Afro-American artist Romare Bearden (1914-1988), held at the Studio Museum, Harlem, USA. About 100 prints, drawings and paintings were displayed, ranging from the cubist figurative pieces of the 1940s, to the lyrical abstract works of the 1950s and 1960s, to the later collages Bearden created. The catalogue depicts in colour about 25% of the works in the exhibition. An essay by Sharon Patton focuses on the themes, styles and iconography, examining Bearden's work within the context of American art, jazz, myth and spirituality.

144 pages, Hardcover

First published May 2, 1991

About the author

Mary Schmidt Campbell is President of Spelman College and Dean Emerita of the Tisch School of the Arts. She served as the vice chair of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities under former President Barack Obama.

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I absolutely adore Romare Bearden's artwork and was surprised to find out in this book that he made so many images in black and white. "Wait a minute", you exclaim and you are right, these are color images shown in black and white. Why do publishers think it is okay to show artwork bursting in color, in black and white? If Romare Bearden thought it would look correct in black and white he would have made it that way. Perhaps I am being picky but I think not. A note to librarians-don't buy art books with black and white illustrations unless those are the colors the artist worked in! And to publishers change your ways!

[Rory G. · Rating 2 out of 5]

So much is read-into artists’ work. At least Bearden was well-read and erudite, so some of these conclusions are conceivably intentional