Alain Locke, Chairman of the Art Committee. “The American Negro Exposition’s Showing of the Works of Negro Artists”, 1pg. preface to complete catalogue for the “Exhibition of the Art of the American Negro (1851 to194) / Assembled by the American Negro Exposition / On view July 4 to September 2 1940 / Tanner Art Galleries…Chicago, Illinois.” Original wrappers. 8 x 10.5”, 15pp.
Besides the front cover illustration of an award-winning drawing by Charles White, there are 16 other black-and-white illustrations of paintings, water colors, and sculpture by Robert Duncanson, Frederic Flemister, Eldzier Cortor, Marvin Smith, William Carter, Hale Woodruff, Jacob Lawrence, Lois Mailou Jones, E. Simms Campbell, Donald Reid, Robert Blackburn, Alice Elizabeth Catlett, Richmond Barthe, Sargent Johnson, and Joseph Kersey - a small sampling of more than 300 individual pieces displayed at the Tanner Galleries in conjunction with the historic American Negro Exposition. Locke, called the “father of the Harlem Renaissance”, hails this exhibition as “the most comprehensive and representative collection of the Negro’s art that has ever been presented to public view…”, intending to “put Negro art on the map…”
Far more rare than the general Program of the Exposition listed below, this catalogue is an essential complement to any collection of African-American fine art. Only two copies have sold at New York auction over the past twenty years, for $2400 and $5750.