114
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ROMARE BEARDEN (1911 - 1988)
Obeah
.
Watercolor on wove paper, circa 1984. 762x560 mm; 30x22 inches. Signed in ink, lower left. From
the
Obeah
series.
Provenance: acquired directly from the artist; private collection, Connecticut.
Romare Bearden’s
Obeah
watercolors are an overlooked, but important series in the artist’s late
career.They represent both a culmination of his artistic freedom and expression in the medium, and
his awareness of the traditions of his second home on the Caribbean island of St. Martin.The role
of the Obeah is a well-known part of Afro-Caribbean communities and cultural history—typically,
a woman who practices spiritual, herbal and mystical healing in her village.The Obeah also continues
Romare Bearden’s depiction of strong female figures, from the Southern ConjurWoman to Maudell
Sleet.This striking and lush watercolor is only the second known work from this series to come to
auction. Garcia pp. 35-36.
[12,000/18,000]
