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STORYVILLE SERIES, C. 1975

Creator: Romare H. Bearden
Offered by: Vallarino Fine Art

Description
ROMARE BEARDEN AMERICAN, 1911-1988
STORYVILLE SERIES, C. 1975
Monotype (unique)
28 x 39 ½ inches
Signed middle right

Storyville was the official red-light district of New Orleans at the turn of the twentieth century, and its houses of prostitution often featured live music. Although Bearden had never been to New Orleans when he made this print, the image of a half-dressed prostitute and a piano player in an adjoining room, may have been inspired by E. J. Bellocq’s photographs, Storyville Portraits, exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art a few years earlier. Evoking the illicit nature of such places, Bearden’s composition is appropriately camouflaged by the highly speckled surface and swirling brushstrokes produced by the monotype technique. In this instance, he brushed and spattered the solvent benzene onto a painted sheet of plastic, thus removing any paint it touched. He then transferred the painted composition to a piece of paper using a printing press, creating a single, unique print.

PROVENANCE
Glenn Spellman Gallery, New York

More Information

Documentation:	Signed
Period:	1950-1979
Condition:	Good.
Styles / Movements:	Modernism
Incollect Reference #:	659990

Dimensions

W.	39.5 in;	H.	28 in;
W.	100.33 cm;	H.	71.12 cm;

Message from Seller:

Vallarino Fine Art has been involved in the art business for the past 50 years. We own everything we offer as we believe in our expertise through our knowledge, scholarship and taste which is reassured by our experience and foresight within the art market. E: