Romare Bearden’s work is a powerful collection that captures and narrates his and other African-Americans’ life experiences as well as tense social challenges in America. George Grozs, a dada artist, provided Bearden with a model of direct social and political commentary in high art and was a heavy influence on his shift from abstract expressionist painting to the collages. Another influence was his use of ancient Chinese methods. Mr. Wu, a Chinese painting teacher, revealed:
After the exhibition of many of his collage pieces, Bearden learned sharply that his own community considered his works to be repulsive and portrayed the African American image that African Americans tried vigorously to steer away from. This is a point where Bearden comes to question himself whether his process was an honest and valid statement.
Through exploring the vastness of Bearden’s works of art, writings and his entire career, one can grasp a solid foundation for his theories and philosophies of communicating universally which is the basis for his works. Bearden’s works are example of composition with influences from European, Chinese and African studies of styles, philosophies and cultures. This was Bearden expanding his knowledge and opening his palette to a variety of different cultures and techniques; and as a result sprung new innovative methods to depict the black experience in America. He makes a strong statement about African American artist and the importance to expand their thinking,
Bearden brushed broad areas of color on various thicknesses of rice paper…. He glued these to the canvas in as many as nine layers. Then he tore sections of the paper away, always tearing upward and across the picture plane. When he found a pattern of motif he liked, he added more paper and painted additional colored areas to complete the work.Picasso was another major influence on the works of Bearden in applying this cubist style. Take his depiction of Picasso’s Three Musician, in his Three Folk Musicians of 1967. There’s presence of both abstract expressionism and cubist collage styles.
After the exhibition of many of his collage pieces, Bearden learned sharply that his own community considered his works to be repulsive and portrayed the African American image that African Americans tried vigorously to steer away from. This is a point where Bearden comes to question himself whether his process was an honest and valid statement.
Through exploring the vastness of Bearden’s works of art, writings and his entire career, one can grasp a solid foundation for his theories and philosophies of communicating universally which is the basis for his works. Bearden’s works are example of composition with influences from European, Chinese and African studies of styles, philosophies and cultures. This was Bearden expanding his knowledge and opening his palette to a variety of different cultures and techniques; and as a result sprung new innovative methods to depict the black experience in America. He makes a strong statement about African American artist and the importance to expand their thinking,
“The Negro artist must come to think of himself not primarily as a Negro artist, but as an artist….There is only one art…. And it belongs to all mankind….Examine the art forms of any culture and one becomes aware of the patterns that link it to other cultures and peoples.”