Early Morning Value Guide

Created in 1964, Early Morning is a quintessential example of Romare Bearden's mature collage style, capturing an intimate domestic scene through layered textures and fragmented imagery. This piece is highly collectible as it represents a pivotal moment in Bearden's career when he focused on the African American experience through his iconic mixed media techniques.

What Is Early Morning Worth?

The typical price range for Early Morning is $100,000 - $120,000 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The 1964 creation date is highly desirable as it marks the peak of his civil rights-era artistic evolution.
• Physical condition of the delicate collage elements, as paper and mixed media are sensitive to light and humidity.
• The intimacy and narrative depth of the subject matter, which aligns with his most sought-after thematic works.
• Documented exhibition history or inclusion in major retrospectives of Bearden's 20th-century American art.

How to Identify Early Morning?

• Look for the distinct 1964 date, a period when Bearden transitioned into his most celebrated collage-based works.
• Examine the surface for a complex layering of paper, paint, and found materials characteristic of his mixed media approach.
• Identify the specific figurative style that blends abstraction with recognizable human forms in an intimate setting.
• Verify provenance linking the piece to Bearden's New York or Pittsburgh periods or established galleries specializing in African American art.

History of Early Morning

Romare Bearden was an African American artist, active from the 1930s until his death in 1988, who worked with many types of media including cartoons, oils, and collages. Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, he later moved to New York City and then to Pittsburgh with his family. Bearden was a prolific artist whose work often focused on the African American experience, drawing inspiration from jazz and the civil rights movement. His collages, like "Early Morning," became particularly iconic, blending diverse images and textures to create powerful narratives. This piece is a notable example of his mature style, showcasing his ability to combine abstraction and figuration.