A History of African-American Artists: From 1792 to the Present [Hardcover]

Romare Bearden (Author), Harry Henderson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 26, 1993

A landmark work of art history: lavishly illustrated and extraordinary for its thoroughness, A History of African-American Artists -- conceived, researched, and written by the great American artist Romare Bearden with journalist Harry Henderson, who completed the work after Bearden's death in 1988 -- gives a conspectus of African-American art from the late eighteenth century to the present. It examines the lives and careers of more than fifty signal African-American artists, and the relation of their work to prevailing artistic, social, and political trends both in America and throughout the world.

Beginning with a radical reevaluation of the enigma of Joshua Johnston, a late eighteenth-century portrait painter widely assumed by historians to be one of the earliest known African-American artists, Bearden and Henderson go on to examine the careers of Robert S. Duncanson, Edward M. Bannister, Henry Ossawa Tanner, Aaron Douglas, Edmonia Lewis, Jacob Lawrence, Hale A. Woodruff, Augusta Savage, Charles H. Alston, Ellis Wilson, Archibald J. Motley, Jr., Horace Pippin, Alma W. Thomas, and many others.

Illustrated with more than 420 black-and-white illustrations and 61 color reproductions -- including rediscovered classics, works no longer extant, and art never before seen in this country -- A History of African-American Artists is a stunning achievement.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Himself one of the most prominent modern African American artists, Bearden conceived this landmark volume, treating more than 50 of his predecessors and contemporaries, before his death in 1988. Henderson has ably carried on his mission in a lavishly illustrated book containing 250 black-and-white and 61 color reproductions. Opening in the 18th century with Joshua Johnston, the authors go on to examine the work of Robert S. Duncanson, Henry O. Tanner, Aaron Douglas, Edmonia Lewis, Jacob Lawrence, Auguste Savage, Ellis Wilson, Archibald Motley, Alma Thomas, and others born before 1925. Their lives and careers, which often involved overcoming racial barriers, are portrayed against the backdrop of artistic, social, and political events; black Renaissance and Depression artists receive the most attention. This thoroughly researched conspectus is a solid choice for U.S. art and history collections.
- Russell T. Clement, Brigham Young Univ. Lib., Provo, Ut.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

The late Romare Bearden, a premier African American artist in his own right, devoted 15 years to researching and writing this magnificent study of the lives and achievements of 36 significant African American artists born prior to 1925. He and longtime friend and coauthor Henderson were motivated by frustration over the lack of literature on black artists. Through great perseverance and determination, they managed to track down forgotten artwork, piece together vivid biographical portraits, and conduct interviews with surviving artists, who, in spite of their stature and longevity, had never before been interviewed. As Bearden and Henderson set the scene, historically speaking, for such artists as Robert S. Duncanson, Edmonia Lewis, and Henry Ossawa Tanner, they expose the degree to which racism limited opportunities for black artists. The life stories of the artists associated with the Black Renaissance during the 1920s--such as Aaron Douglas; Archibald Motley, the first painter to boldly celebrate urban African American society; and sculptor and influential mentor Augusta Savage--are recorded with consummate insight, as are accounts of the giants of the Depression era, Beauford Delaney and Jacob Lawrence. Richly illustrated and written with resounding empathy and pride, this is a major contribution to the literature on African American history and to the annals of American art. Donna Seaman

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 560 pages
• Publisher: Pantheon; 1st edition (October 26, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394570162
• ISBN-13: 978-0394570167
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 1.6 x 12.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #187,782 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars nice book, February 20, 2000

By 

"[e-mail]" - See all my reviews

This review is from: A History of African-American Artists: From 1792 to the Present (Hardcover)

i had a class in college that used this book as a text book. ienjoyed it then, but it wasn't until later that i really had a chanceto sit down and enjoy it. information is good and the pictures are plentiful. this is a very nice book for anyone interested in african american art and culture. another book that i would like to recommend is called souls grown deep: african american vernacular art of the south, volume one. i bought it at an art fair in new york in late january. i'm not sure that it has been released nationally. i've contacted amazon in an attempt to get more info. i have it so i know it is out. this type of book (souls and the history...) are too few and far between.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Priceless Treasure, June 20, 2003

By 

KMWalker "KMWalker" - See all my reviews

This review is from: A History of African-American Artists: From 1792 to the Present (Hardcover)

This is quite simply one of the best books I've ever read. As an avid reader, I do not make that claim lightly. What makes this book so remarkable is how Bearden and Henderson both bring the artists to life and give you a deep appreciation for their work.

No other book I've read on the arts has left me similarly breathless. While many of them have been quite competent at explaining things like "Impressionism," "The Renaissance," or "The Harlem Renaissance," none have so beautifully balanced an explanation of the artist and of the artist's work. By bringing the people to life, Bearden and Henderson have brought the art to life. They have made a priceless contribution to our understanding of African-American artists, their work and the challenges they had to overcome to pursue their passion.

This book is a must-have. It will deepen your appreciation of art and of the contributions that African-Americans have made to it.

Katrina M. Walker

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderfully Stunning Revelation, November 29, 1999

By 

Sylvia Rosario - See all my reviews

This review is from: A History of African-American Artists: From 1792 to the Present (Hardcover)

This outstanding potrait of little-known, but great and wonderful African American Artists should be required reading for all fine arts programs... The depth of research is evident and this work, a work of Art itself, is to be treasured and placed within the archives of the world's great libraries and the homes of all of us who love and appreciate great art and "Great Books"!..Sylvia Rosario, President,Black Satin Collectibles - email: [e-mail]