Baptism
Date1978
MediumWatercolor and collage on paper
DimensionsImage: 4 3/8 × 9 1/4 inches (11.1 × 23.5 cm)
Sheet: 9 13/16 × 13 inches (25 × 33 cm)
Credit LineGift of Walter and Linda Evans
Object number2023.18
Copyright© 2024 Romare Bearden Foundation / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY.
The images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label TextRomare Bearden’s work, often employing mixed media and collage, addressed subjects ranging from history to literature, music, urban life, and images from the South. Born in North Carolina, Romare Bearden moved to New York City with his parents when he was three. As a child, he spent summers with his grandparents in the South, and images and memories from the region figured prominently in his work. This collaged painting on paper depicts a river baptism, a ritualistic renewal of faith and cleansing that was practiced in southern rural churches. Throughout his career, Bearden built a significant reputation as an artist, teacher, and humanist. He was a founding member of the Studio Museum in Harlem; Cinque Gallery, which promoted the work of young black artists; and Spiral, a group of African American artists who met to discuss potential contributions to the civil rights movement.
