Romare Bearden Come Sunday Bicentennial Signed Color Lithograph Edition of 75

Artist: Romare Bearden
Title: Come Sunday
Medium: Lithograph in colors on Arches
Size: 27.75" x 21.5"
Year: 1975
Edition: 22/75
Publisher: Special Projects Group, Chicago
Printer: Fine Creations, Inc, New York
Inscription: Signed, dated, and numbered on front lower left
Documentation: Gallery certificate of authenticity
Literature: Gelburd/Rosenberg 57

"Come Sunday" (1975) is a lithograph in colors by Romare Bearden, a leading figure in 20th-century American art renowned for his exploration of African American life through collage, painting, and printmaking. This work demonstrates Bearden's ability to convey narrative depth and emotional resonance through composition, color, and form. Drawing on themes of spirituality, music, and community, the piece reflects the artist's enduring interest in the cultural and social dimensions of African American experience, integrating abstraction with figurative suggestion to create a work that is both visually dynamic and contemplatively rich.

Executed in lithograph on Arches paper, "Come Sunday" displays Bearden's characteristic attention to rhythm, texture, and layered imagery, evoking the harmonies and cadence of gospel music, a recurring motif in his oeuvre. The composition engages the viewer with its careful balance of line and color, demonstrating Bearden's mastery of printmaking as a medium for both personal expression and cultural commentary.

This particular impression is number 22 from a limited edition of 75, printed by Fine Creations, Inc., in New York and published by Special Projects Group, Chicago. It is signed, dated, and numbered on the front lower left and is accompanied by a gallery certificate of authenticity. This work is documented in the literature: Gelburd/Rosenberg 57.

"Come Sunday" stands as a testament to Romare Bearden's skill in synthesizing form, color, and cultural narrative, offering a nuanced and enduring reflection on the spiritual and communal dimensions of African American life.

About Romare Bearden

Romare Bearden (1911–1988) was a groundbreaking African American artist whose work reshaped modern visual storytelling through painting, collage, and printmaking. Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, and raised in New York City, Bearden drew inspiration from the cultural richness of the Harlem Renaissance and the lived experiences of African American communities. His art captures the nuances of Black life, blending personal memory, historical narrative, and social commentary into compositions that are both visually striking and emotionally resonant.

Bearden is particularly renowned for his innovative collage techniques, in which he combined photographs, magazine clippings, and painted elements to create layered, textured works that explore urban life, music, literature, folklore, and family. Alongside his collages, Bearden produced compelling oil paintings, watercolors, and prints, demonstrating mastery across multiple mediums and a consistent dedication to exploring cultural identity through art.

Over the course of his career, Bearden exhibited widely and received critical acclaim from institutions such as the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. His work is included in major museum collections and continues to influence contemporary artists, writers, and musicians. Romare Bearden's legacy endures as a central figure in American art, celebrated for his innovation, cultural insight, and the enduring power of his visual storytelling.