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At the Clef Club (Piano Player) 1975 20th Century 41 1/2 in. x 29 1/2 in. (105.41 cm x 74.93 cm) Romare Bearden (Charlotte, North Carolina, 1914 - 1988) Object Type: Drawing Medium and Support: watercolor on paper Credit Line: Arkansas Arts Center Foundation Collection: Purchase, Memorial Acquisition Fund in memory of John Thompson Meriwether, Jr.. 1981.022 Accession Number: 1981.022 Comments: At the Clef Club (Piano Player) is a large and spontaneously worked watercolor from a period (1974-76) when Bearden  developed several series of works on jazz and blues themes.  Major collage compositions, such as New Orleans Farewell, At Connie's Inn, One Night Stand, and Empress of the Blues, recall the traditions of the music, revered players and singers, and famous clubs and theaters where he had listened to the music. He admired the Harlem "stride piano players" as powerful virtuosi and inventive composers.  The Clef Club was founded by James R. Europe, the first celebrated Black band leader.  The name first referred to an organizaton of New York musicians, given a chance to play by Europe.  Later, Clef Club became the name of an Orchestra.  Because we do not know to which Bearden is referring, we can only assume At the Clef Club salutes a musical performer through equally direct and improvisational drawing and brushwork.  Bearden's work captures the spontaneity of ragtime and the energy of the original club.

Keywords:

• American
• watercolor
• figure

Portfolio List
This object is a member of the following portfolios (click any portfolio name to view all objects in that portfolio):

• Masterworks: Drawing
• Introduction to Collection: Drawings
• Twentieth Century American Drawings

Keywords:

• Artist:North American:American
• Class:Fine Arts:drawing:watercolor
• Subject:figure

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