Romare Howard Bearden

Cordier & Ekstrom, Inc., New York (acquired directly from the artist in 1981)

Marjorie Lewis, New York (acquired from the above in 1981)

Acquired by descent from the estate of the above in 2020 by the present owner

Romare Howard Bearden’s Drum Interlude exemplifies the artist’s appreciation for diverse patterns, vibrant colors and dynamic compositions. The present work represents Bearden’s mature style, characterized by a sense of freedom that grows from raw, unbridled inspiration. The artist’s energetic brushstrokes and stylized forms within the figure and drum set contrast in color and style against the soothing, graduated blue background. The composition of the present work is straightforward, yet Bearden’s eclectic style remains consistent. The artist uses sporadic yet intentional shapes to delineate the details and features within the figure, as the rhythmic patterns and colorful accents within Bearden’s brushwork evoke the beat and spontaneity of a boisterous drum solo. 

Though he is primarily celebrated for his art, Bearden was also a talented musician and songwriter. Having spent a large portion of his childhood surrounded by the vibrant jazz scene of Harlem, music took up an important space in Bearden’s creative output. He was even credited as a co-writer on songs by Duke Ellington and Billy Eckstine, in addition to Loften Mitchell’s 1960 musical, Star of the Morning. Bearden’s love of music emerges within his visual art through an array of musical motifs in works such as the present. Bearden’s striking synthesis of mediums and engaging composition create unexpected harmonies within Drum Interlude that exemplify the innovative nature of his work.

Bearden created Drum Interlude in the same year that the renowned exhibition Profile/Part II, The Thirties was hung at the Cordier & Ekstrom Gallery in New York, his second installation of a two-part exhibition. After the two Profile exhibitions, Bearden sold his work exclusively with the Cordier & Ekstrom Gallery, holding many group and solo shows throughout his career. A testament to the significance of the present work, Drum Interlude was acquired by Cordier & Ekstrom Gallery shortly after its completion in 1981, and has subsequently remained in private hands for over 40 years.