1911 - 1988
American
Ritual Bayou
colour photolithograph mounted on finished plywood
a ) Memories
signed
18 1/4 x 21 1/2 in, 46.4 x 54.6 cm
b ) Reunion
signed twice
15 x 21 1/4 in, 38.1 x 54 cm
c ) Ritual Bayou
signed twice
17 x 21 1/4 in, 43.2 x 54 cm
d ) Carolina Interior
signed twice
21 1/4 x 16 in, 54 x 40.6 cm
e ) Mississippi Monday
signed twice
18 x 21 1/4 in, 45.7 x 54 cm
f ) Byzantine Frieze
signed three times
18 1/2 x 21 1/4 in, 47 x 54 cm
Estimate: $15,000 - $25,000 CAD
Sold for: $25,000
Preview at:
PROVENANCE
Acquired directly from Shorewood Publishers, New York
Collection of Herta Brodi, Brussels
By descent to the present Private Collection, Toronto
The Ritual Bayou suite is comprised of six colour collage photo-lithographs mounted on finished plywood, as issued, from a planned edition of 75. They were published by Shorewood Publishers, New York, 1971.
This rare suite of Romare Bearden’s collage lithographs has had a travelled and unusual history. Its first owner, Herta Brodi, made her modest living as an art dealer in Post-War Brussels, exhibiting works by contemporary artists in her own home as well as in local public art centres. During that time she met and became a close friend of the publisher, Sam Shore, of Shorewood Atelier, visiting him annually in New York to select works for her inventory. That selection included limited edition graphics by Victor Vasarely, Salvador Dali, Hans Bellmer, Ernst Lindner, Marino Marini, Rodo Boulanger and a host of other 20th century luminaries. Shore’s enthusiasm for the work of Romare Bearden also led to her owning and exhibiting his images as well.
Sam Shore, a major collector and supporter of Bearden’s work, had proposed the publication of three suites based on the artist’s prized collage images as limited edition collage-lithographs, a process that proved to be so complicated that only one suite of six, Ritual Bayou, was ever produced. Furthermore, the planned edition of 75 was never completed and it is not known how many others may be in existence. In 1976, Herta Brodi mounted her final private showing and, regrettably, she died at a young age that same year. All of the remaining inventory of her collection, including this suite which is outside the numbered edition, was willed to the present owner in Toronto where it has been treasured for more than 40 years.
This work is accompanied by the DVD “The Art of Romare Bearden,” National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2003
All prices are in Canadian Dollars
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