Prelude to Farewell

Drawing from a variety of art historical sources, including Cubism, Byzantine mosaics, and Mexican murals, Romare Bearden created semi-abstract works that explore the richness of everyday Black life. Here, he constructed a domestic space, foregrounding two starkly different figures. One, elaborately dressed and displaying a face inspired by African masks, is seated beside a glowing lamp. The second, nude and bathing over a basin, stands farther behind her. The layered composition offers a glimpse into an intimate moment.