BARTHE: His Life in Art by Samella Lewis, Unityworks, 2009 First Ed.

Lewis, Samella, Los Angeles, Unityworks, 2009. 

English, First Edition, New/Fine Hardcover, 301 pp.

ISBN: 9780692002018

Fine Folio, 10" x 12 1/2" hardcover in tan cloth over boards, rich brown lettering stamped to cover and spine, pictorial dust jacket featuring the 1932 cast concrete statue, "Rose McClendon" in situ at Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater House, white spine with black lettering, image of the 1935 patina-ed plaster sculpture with wood base, "African Woman" to the back cover.  301 pp. including a Prologue by sculptor Elizabeth Catlett, an Epilogue by the artist in his own words, a Catalog of Works featuring full-page reproductions of the artist's sculptures in stunning sepia tone, a selection of six Fables written by the sculptor and accompanied by an array of photographs of Barthe, an Honors and Awards section which is not just a list, but a collection of facsimiles of the letters of dedication, and of course an extensive Bibliography and chronology of Exhibitions. Written by close friend and iconic artist and art historian Samella Lewis, an in-depth exploration of Barthe's life and work in five sections: New Orleans, Chicago, New York City, Jamaica-Europe, and Pasadena. Replete with images in full-color and sepia tone of the artist at work and in life, his sculpture, and candid imagery of a life well-lived. Not just a monograph, but a memory book arranged by those who knew him. A gift-quality volume.

From the Epilogue: "I hope that my people will look into my works and see a reflection of themselves. I have been trying to hold up a mirror to them and say, "look how beautiful you are." It wasn't until "yesterday" that they suddenly realized that they were beautiful. My dream in life was to make my people proud of me and show them how beautiful the world is."