“Home to Ithaca” is a 1977 artwork by Romare Bearden that is part of the “Odysseus” series. This literary painting, belonging to the art movements of Cubism and Neo-Expressionism, portrays an episode from the famous Greek epic, the Odyssey.
The artwork displays a vibrant and dynamic scene featuring a boat with sails prominently placed in the foreground. A lone figure, presumably Odysseus, stands on the boat, gazing towards a distant and picturesque land dotted with various structures including houses, towers, and what appears to be a temple or monument. The colorful yet geometric depiction of the town, juxtaposed against the bold, angular lines of the boat and sails, illustrates the complexity and depth associated with Cubism, while the expressive use of color and form aligns with Neo-Expressionism. The overall composition conveys a sense of journey and hopeful return, evocative of Odysseus’s prolonged voyage back to his homeland, Ithaca.
