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Circe Into Swine
1979
22 x 29 3/4 in. (55.88 x 75.57 cm)
Romare Bearden (Charlotte, North Carolina, 1911 - 1988)
Swans, Swine, and Sirens, April 18, 2013 - December 1, 2013, Historic Wing, Paul L. Davies Gallery, San José Museum of Art.
Bookish, September 25, 2011 - January 15, 2012, 2nd Fl., Central and South Galleries, San José Museum of Art.
Collecting Our Thoughts: The Community Responds to Art in the Permanent Collection, June 23, 2001 - September 23, 2001, New Wing, Metro A, Skylight and South Galleries, Second Floor, San José Museum of Art.
Swans, Swine, and Sirens (2013)
Drawn to Homer’s ancient epic poem The Odyssey, in the late 1970s Romare Bearden created a series of collages based on its timeless themes. Bearden saw parallels between Odysseus’s frustrated efforts to return home and the African-American experience. , a print based on one of these collages, makes reference to the evil enchantress Circe, who gave Odysseus’s men food that transformed them into swine. To connect the story to his own African-American heritage, Bearden gave his figures dark skin, and made Homer’s tale into a contemporary one of journey and transformation.
Bookish (2011-2012)
Drawn to Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, in the late 1970s Romare Bearden created a series of collages based on its timeless themes of human redemption. Bearden saw parallels between Odysseus’s frustrated efforts to return home and the African-American experience. Circe into Swine, a print based on one of these collages, makes reference to the evil Greek enchantress Circe. In The Odyssey, she feeds Odysseus’s men poisoned food and transforms them into swine. Bearden gave his figures dark skin to connect the story to African-Americans and thus to himself. In so doing, he updated Homer’s tale and made it a contemporary one of journey and transformation.
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by Artist (193)
by Object Type (3)
Circe Into Swine
Print
197922 x 29 3/4 in. (55.88 x 75.57 cm)
Romare Bearden (Charlotte, North Carolina, 1911 - 1988)
Object Type: Print
Medium and Support: Serigraph on paper
Credit Line: Gift of Peter and Eileen Norton
Accession Number: 2000.01.02
Exhibition
Swans, Swine, and Sirens, April 18, 2013 - December 1, 2013, Historic Wing, Paul L. Davies Gallery, San José Museum of Art.
Bookish, September 25, 2011 - January 15, 2012, 2nd Fl., Central and South Galleries, San José Museum of Art.
Collecting Our Thoughts: The Community Responds to Art in the Permanent Collection, June 23, 2001 - September 23, 2001, New Wing, Metro A, Skylight and South Galleries, Second Floor, San José Museum of Art.
SJMA Label Text
Swans, Swine, and Sirens (2013)
Drawn to Homer’s ancient epic poem The Odyssey, in the late 1970s Romare Bearden created a series of collages based on its timeless themes. Bearden saw parallels between Odysseus’s frustrated efforts to return home and the African-American experience. , a print based on one of these collages, makes reference to the evil enchantress Circe, who gave Odysseus’s men food that transformed them into swine. To connect the story to his own African-American heritage, Bearden gave his figures dark skin, and made Homer’s tale into a contemporary one of journey and transformation.
Bookish (2011-2012)
Drawn to Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, in the late 1970s Romare Bearden created a series of collages based on its timeless themes of human redemption. Bearden saw parallels between Odysseus’s frustrated efforts to return home and the African-American experience. Circe into Swine, a print based on one of these collages, makes reference to the evil Greek enchantress Circe. In The Odyssey, she feeds Odysseus’s men poisoned food and transforms them into swine. Bearden gave his figures dark skin to connect the story to African-Americans and thus to himself. In so doing, he updated Homer’s tale and made it a contemporary one of journey and transformation.
Additional Images Click an image to view a larger version
Dimensions
- Image Dimensions: 22 x 29 3/4 in. (55.88 x 75.57 cm)
Bibliography List
This object has the following bibliographic references: - Selections: The San Jose Museum of Art Permanent Collection. Selections: The San Jose Museum of Art Permanent Collection San Jose Museum of Art. San Jose, CA, 2004
Page Number: 20-21
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