The artwork, titled “Bessie, Duke, and Louis,” was created by Romare Bearden in 1981. This piece belongs to the art movements of Outsider art and Pop Art, and falls within the genre of genre painting.
The artwork features a vibrant collage that pays homage to three iconic figures in music: Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, and Louis Armstrong. The visual narrative is rich with expressive colors and geometric shapes. Central to the composition, a figure of Bessie Smith is depicted dancing, surrounded by instruments such as a trumpet and saxophone. Portraits of Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong are prominently integrated, reflecting their immense contribution to the musical landscape. The boldness of Bearden’s color palette and the dynamic arrangement of cutouts create an energetic and celebratory atmosphere, encapsulating the essence of jazz and blues music.
