ROMARE BEARDEN (1911 -1988)
The River Merchant's Wife.

Oil on linen canvas, 1954. 1016x787 mm; 40x31 inches. Signed in oil, lower right recto. Signed, titled and dated in oil, verso.

Provenance: acquired directly from the artist, private collection, New York and West Orange, NJ (1954); thence by descent, private collection, New York (2011).

Exhibited: Barone Gallery, New York, October 31 - November 24, 1955. This solo exhibition was Romare Bearden's first since 1949; it included oil and watercolors, with a printed catalogue.

The River Merchant's Wife is a significant and beautiful painting of abstraction from an important, but, until recently, largely overlooked period of Romare Bearden's mid-career. The title and its technique reflect Bearden's keen interest in poetry and Chinese art at the time..

The painting's title apparently comes from Ezra Pound's translation of Rihaku (Li T'ai Po)'s The River-Merchant's Wife: A Letter, one of Pound's most anthologized poems. Myron Schwartzman writes how The River Merchant's Wife was one of three paintings critically praised in the New York Times review of Bearden's 1955 exhibiton at the Barone Gallery. The reviewer notes that in The River Merchant's Wife the figure "seems to have stepped from the pages of an old Chinese legend." The other notable paintings from the period include Blue Lady, 1955 and Mountains of the Moon, circa 1995, both recently exhibited in the traveling museum exhibition Romare Bearden: Abstraction and A Walk in Paradise Gardens, 1955, collection of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution.

In the 1950s, Bearden developed a strong affinitty with Zen Buddhism, and studied the principles of calligraphy and Chinese landscape painting. He worked closely with a Mr. Wu, who owned a store on Bayard Street, near Bearden's Canal Street studio. Bearden considered Mr. Wu an authority on Chinese art, and soon recognized the many abstract possiblities found in Chinese landscape painting.

Bearden's early 1950s paintings embraced formal characteristics found in both Chinese art and modern abstraction. This included the flatness of pictorial space and a fragmentation of color and light. Myron Schwartzman writes how Bearden shared this modernist vision with his friend and fellow abstract painter Carl Holty. Bearden wrote to Holty in 1952: "I rather envision large planes of light that spell out the forms; with the philosophic intent that in a world of darkness we could hardly conceive of form except in a tactile sense. And, in a sense, the artist with his colors lights his world....While I think of some light source that moves across the canvas, pausing to become yellow, blue, pink or what you have during its passage: and always yellow, blue or pink according to the painter's desire, so that the effect would have nothing to do with illumination or atomspheric effects". With its striking proto-Cubist structure and distinctive palette, Bearden's The River Merchant's Wife. appears to be the fruition of his earlier vision. It is also notable that Bearden married Nanette Rohan in September of 1954. Fine p. 221; Schwartzman p. 183-86.

Conditions of Sale

CONDITIONS OF SALE

The property described in this catalogue, as amended by any posted notices or oral announcements during the sale, will be sold by Swann Galleries, Inc. (Swann) as agent for various owners (the Consignors). These CONDITIONS OF SALE, and the LIMITED WARRANTY and ADVICE TO PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS set forth elsewhere in the catalogue are the complete and only terms and conditions on which all property is offered for sale. By bidding at auction (whether present in person or by agent, by written or telephone bid, or by any other means) the buyer agrees to be bound by these Conditions of Sale.

1. THE AUTHENTICITY OF PROPERTY LISTED IN THIS CATALOGUE IS WARRANTED TO THE EXTENT STATED IN THE "LIMITED WARRANTY" EXCEPT AS PROVIDED THEREIN. ALL PROPERTY IS SOLD "AS IS" AND NEITHER SWANN NOR THE CONSIGNOR MAKES ANY WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS OF ANY KIND OR NATURE WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPERTY OR ITS VALUE, AND IN NO EVENT SHALL THEY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTNESS OF DESCRIPTION, GENUINENESS, ATTRIBUTION, PROVENANCE, AUTHENTICITY, AUTHORSHIP, COMPLETENESS, CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY OR ESTIMATE OF VALUE. NO STATEMENT (ORAL OR WRITTEN) IN THE CATALOGUE, AT THE SALE, OR ELSEWHERE SHALL BE DEEMED SUCH A WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION, OR ANY ASSUMPTION OF RESPONSIBILITY.

2. All bids are to be per lot as numbered in the catalogue.

3. NEITHER SWANN NOR THE CONSIGNOR MAKES ANY REPRESENTATION THAT THE PURCHASER OF MANUSCRIPT MATERIAL, PHOTOGRAPHS, PRINTS, OR WORKS OF ART WILL ACQUIRE ANY COPYRIGHT OR REPRODUCTION RIGHTS THERETO.

4. Swann reserves the absolute right (a) to withdraw any property at any time before its actual final sale, including during the bidding, and (b) to refuse any bid from any bidder. The auctioneer is the sole judge as to the amount to be advanced by each succeeding bid.

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13. No waiver or alteration of any of these Conditions of Sale, the Advice to Prospective Bidders, the Limited Warranty, the estimates, or any other matter in this catalogue or any other matter whatever (whether made by the auctioneer, or Consignor, or any representative of Swann) shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by a representative of Swann.

14. THE "LIMITED WARRANTY" APPEARING BELOW AND THE "ADVICE TO PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS" APPEARING OVERLEAF FORM PART OF THESE CONDITIONS OF SALE.


LIMITED WARRANTY

We warrant the authenticity and condition of each lot catalogued herein on the terms and conditions set forth below.

1. Unless otherwise indicated in the respective catalogue descriptions (which are subject to amendment by oral or written notices or announcements made by Swann prior to sale), we warrant for a period of three (3) years from the date of sale the authenticity of each lot catalogued herein. (Please note Paragraphs 3 and 5 below.)

2. Except as noted above, or unless otherwise indicated in the respective catalogue description, we warrant for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of sale to the original buyer of record, that each book or manuscript is complete in text and illustration and generally is in such physical condition as may reasonably be expected considering the age and provenance. This warranty does not cover damages to binding, stains or foxing, wormholes, short leaves of text or plates or any defect not affecting the completeness of the text. Moreover, this warranty does not cover the lack of inserted advertisements, blank leaves, cancels or subsequently published volumes.

3. Serial publications, books in original parts, extra-illustrated books, made up "albums" and lots described as "sold as is," "sold not subject to return," "not collated," "collection of " or "group of," and any lot containing more than three (3) items, are sold as is and therefore not covered by these warranties.

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(b) In the event that a buyer claims that an item is not authentic, Swann shall have no obligation to rescind the sale unless the buyer has obtained, at the buyer's expense, the opinion of two recognized experts in the field, who are mutually agreeable to Swann and the buyer, that a lot or portion thereof is not authentic.


ADVICE TO PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS

1. ALL PROPERTY IS SOLD SUBJECT TO THIS ADVICE, THE CONDITIONS OF SALE, AND TERMS OF WARRANTY PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

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10. REMOVAL OF PROPERTY. All lots purchased shall be removed at the purchaser's risk and expense by the end of the fifth business day following the sale. Purchases not so removed will be treated as set forth in paragraph 9 of the Conditions of Sale.

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13. CREDIT. Bidders whose credit is unknown to Swann should submit acceptable credit references or make prior arrangements for payment, failing which purchases will not be released until funds have cleared. Mail bidders should submit references or a deposit of 25% of their maximum bid. If successful, the deposit will be applied to the purchase; if unsuccessful, the deposit will be returned.

14. LOTS NOT RETURNABLE. Paragraph 3 of the Limited Warranty describes lots which are sold as is and not returnable. Books, manuscripts, prints, drawings, photographs, signatures, or any other property offered in a lot comprising more than 3 items, whether or not such items are individually named, constitute "Grouped Lots." Such "Grouped Lots" are not subject to return for any reason.


SUPPLEMENTAL ADVICE TO PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS WITH RESPECT TO SALES OF PRINTS, DRAWINGS, PAINTINGS, WATERCOLORS, SCULPTURES, AND MULTIPLES

GENERAL:

Dimensions are given in millimeters and inches, with height preceding width in both cases. Dimensions for prints are measured to the outside edges of the plate mark (for intaglio) or image (for planographic and relief); dimensions for drawings and other works are measured to the outside edges of the support (paper, canvas, etc.) For prints, if the margins are known or believed to be full this is stated.

References are cited using the author's surname and corresponding catalogue page number(s) or catalogue raisonne number at the end of each catalogue entry, preceding the estimate.

Whenever possible framed works are sold in the frames in which they have been received. However, we take no responsibility for frames.

Be advised that pursuant to paragraph 1(b) of the Limited Warranty, Swann does not warrant the condition of prints, drawings or watercolors unless specifically stated in the catalogue description. We attempt to characterize quality and gross defects in condition whenever possible as an aid to prospective bidders, but clients should satisfy themselves prior to the sale as to the condition of each lot and should exercise and rely on their own judgment as to whether the lot accords with its description. More detailed condition reports are available upon request.

Illustrations in the catalogue are for identification only and should not be used as a basis for determining the condition of the lot.


FOR UNIQUE WORKS, SUCH AS DRAWINGS AND WATERCOLORS:

Authorship for each lot is indicated using the following descriptions:

Guido Reni: In our opinion, a work by the artist. (When the artist's forename(s) is not known, a series of asterisks, followed by the surname of the artist indicates that in our opinion the work is by the artist named.)

Guido Reni (attributed to): In our opinion, probably a work by the artist but less certainty as to authorship is expressed than in the preceding category.

Guido Reni (studio of): In our opinion, a work by an unknown hand in the studio of the artist which may or may not have been executed under the direction of the artist.

Guido Reni (circle of): In our opinion, a work by an unknown hand closely associated with the named artist but not necessarily his student.

Guido Reni (style of) or (follower of): In our opinion, a work by an unknown, nearly contemporary or contemporary hand working in the artist's style but not necessarily his student.

Guido Reni (manner of): In our opinion, a work in the style of the artist and of a later date.

Guido Reni (after): In our opinion, a copy of a work of the artist.


FOR PRINTS AND MULTIPLES:

If there is a generally accepted title for the print, that title is given at the beginning of the lot description following the artist's name.

The primary medium is identified following the title. The terms used are intended only as a general description and may not include all the techniques employed by the artist.

Dates used in the catalogue entries refer to execution of the "master" or printing matrix. For prints made after 1949, it will be stated if the impression was pulled later than the execution of the master or matrix; for prints made prior to 1949, the impression may or may not be of a date contemporaneous with the execution of the master or matrix.

The term "signed" means that, in our opinion, the signature is by the artist and was made more or less contemporaneously with the creation of the print.

Whenever possible, we attempt to indicate the state of a print and will usually rely on information found in the relevant catalogue raisonne to determine this information.

For modern and contemporary prints, and for early prints when the data are available, every reasonable effort is made to identify relevant information concerning the extent of the edition. If the print is described as an "artist's proof" or an "hors commerce" impression, the size of the regular edition is usually provided.

In most cases, we describe the quality of the impression of the print, ranging in descending order from "brilliant" and "superb" to "very good," "good" and "fair." These descriptions are intended merely as a general guide and should not be taken as a statement of fact, nor do they represent any description of the condition of the print.

Payment Information

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Shipping Information

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Buyer's Premium

Buyer's Premium is 25% of the hammer price up to and including $100,000; 20% of the portion of the hammer price above $100,000 up to and including $1,000,000; and 12% of the portion of the hammer price above $1,000,000. An additional buyer's premium may be charged on any purchase made through a live online auction as posted by Swann in accordance with such live online auction. For Invaluable.com and Liveauctioneers.com, the additional buyer's premium is 5%.

Taxes on your purchase

SALES TAX. All items purchased are subject to payment of the New York City and State sales tax of 8.875% on the total purchase price (final bid plus the Buyer's Premium as defined in paragraph 7 of the Conditions of Sale) unless the purchaser presents proof of exemption therefrom. An exempt purchaser must provide a properly completed New York State Resale Certificate (Form ST-120) evidencing possession of a valid New York State Resale or, for non-New York State businesses, the equivalent resale authorization from another locale. Purchases shipped outside of New York State may be subject to sales tax imposed by another state, and any such sales taxes will also be due and payable unless proper proof of exemption therefrom is provided. Purchases will not be released unless all sales tax requirements are satisfied.

Condition Statement

Available upon request.