P4902

The Art of Romare Bearden

Prevalence of Ritual, Conjur Woman & Falling Star

Collins Cover Announcement 

Romare Bearden

This is the second and final cover for this gifted American artist and, it too, has two of the new stamps.

In the mid-fifties, Romare turned seriously to music, and his "Sea Breeze" was recorded by Dizzy Gillespie and Billy Eckstine. It remains to this day a jazz classic. Later in the 1950s, Bearden's work turned toward the abstract as he began using layers of oil paint to produce muted and often hidden effects.

With the arrival of the 1960s, Romare founded an artist's group to support the Civil Rights movement. His work now took a different direction as his paintings often became a collage with socially conscious and African American themes. My hand panted cachet shows the famous artist at work as a figure from one of the stamps seems to observe approvingly over his shoulder.

When he died on March 12, 1988, Romare was considered one of America's preeminent artists and the nation's foremost collagist. I am pleased to offer this final First Day Cover tribute to an artist who lived his life to the fullest and left an incredible legacy. Romare Bearden. Collins #P4902 at $14.50.