1. The Land of the Lotus Eaters
Artwork by Romare Beardon

2. About the Artist Romare Bearden (1914-1988)
Famous African American author of the Harlem Renaissance
Born in Charlotte, NC
Moved to Harlem
Joined the Army in 1942
Moved to Paris to study art

4. Bearden’s Art Work focused mainly on the African American experience
Worked in the medium of collages

5. Collages
Were first used in modern times by the cubists (who inspired Bearden in Paris)
For Bearden’s collages, he combined his artist’s eye and his love of jazz
He took fragments of pictures and colors and arranged them to form figures and scenes that became unified storytelling creations

6. Bearden’s collage materials
He used a large variety including:
Pictures from magazines
Photographs
Fabrics
paint

7. Reasons to make collage
Bearden liked collage because with it he was able to combine related moments and events in his work
To show the relation of past and present
To express the color and richness of life that he associated with African American culture

8. Bearden’s Odyssey
Bearden did an African American version of the ancient Greek classic, The Odyssey
He wanted to reinterpret memories and stories in African American terms

9. Land of the Lotus Eaters
Done in 1977
From his collection of Odyssey stories

10. Introducing the Collage
What colors predominate in the collage?
How would you describe the tones of these colors?
Describe the terrain in the collage.

12. Introducing the Collage
What effect does the diagonal line of the river have on the viewer’s path of vision?
What sort of texture does the collage have?
What are the people in the collage doing? What seems to be their mood?

14. Land of the Lotus Eaters
Answer the following questions on the worksheet - in complete sentences

15. Additional Collages
Cyclops
Battle of the Cicones

18. The Cyclops Painting by French Artist Odilon Redon Tones of pastel
Oils
Dream-like mythical images