The artwork, titled “Pepper Jelly Lady,” was created by artist Romare Bearden in 1980 and is attributed to the Outsider art movement. Classified within the genre of genre painting, it provides a glimpse into everyday life through its unique visual narrative.
The artwork depicts a woman standing in a vivid, colorful landscape, adorned in a patterned dress and a head wrap. To her right, a rooster is shown in mid-strut, adding an element of life to the scene. The background is divided into two sections; one half features natural elements such as trees and the sky, while the other half appears to showcase structures resembling buildings. The top corners of the artwork are adorned with stylized leaves, and the overall setting is framed with intricate outlines, possibly illustrating a rural or domestic environment. The use of vibrant colors and dynamic shapes showcases Bearden’s distinctive style, blending figuration and abstraction to evoke a sense of both place and character.
