Romare Bearden, American modernist

Fourteen essays by curators, art historians, and artists consider the work of painter Romare Bearden (1911-1988) in the contexts of American and international modernism as well as African-American art history. Topics fall into four main areas: the relationship of Bearden's work to literature, jazz, and modern dance; the sources of his imagery, including radical politics, religion, and southern black culture; his professional development and influence; and the influence of the avant-garde, including cubism and Pop Art, on his paintings and collages.