New York: The Harmon Foundation, 1928-1935.
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Softcover. First, and only editions. Five volumes. Octavos. Stapled illustrated self-wrappers. Overall near fine, with titles and full descriptions below. Established in 1922 the Harmon Foundation was "the most influential social organization of the twentieth century that promoted and exhibited art by Negroes [&] the major resource for the financial support of Negro artists from 1926 to 1933 [striving] to keep the momentum of excitement around Negro American culture from the Harlem Renaissance and turn it into a narrative of social progress during the late 1920s and into the 1930s" (Cooks. *Exhibiting Blackness: African Americans and the American Art Museum*, p.11). Essentially, the shows promoted by the Foundation helped to define and focus African-American artists and their art during the Harlem Renaissance.
The catalogues include work by Aaron Douglas, Palmer Hayden, Sargent Johnson, Malvin Gray Johnson, Meta Warrick Fuller, Allan Rohan Crite, Lois Maillou Jones, Laura Wheeler Waring, Archibald J. Motley, Hale Woodruff, James A. Porter, Nancy Elizabeth Prophet, Richmond Barthé, William H. Johnson, Richard Bruce Nugent, Augusta Savage, and many others. Full list below:
1. Exhibition of Fine Arts Productions of American Negro Artists. 1928. 11pp. Illustrated. Slight soiling, fine.
2. Exhibition of Fine Arts by American Negro Artists. 1929. [12]pp. Illustrated. Spine worn, else near fine.
3. Exhibit of Fine Arts by American Negro Artists. 1930. 10, [4]pp. Illustrated. Modest soiling, else near fine.
4. Exhibition of the Work of Negro Artists. 1931. 47pp. Illustrated. Small chips on both front and rear wrap, else near fine.
5. Negro Artists: An Illustrated Review of their Achievements. 1935. 59pp. Illustrated. Small, older library stamp, else near fine. Includes a Directory of Negro Artists.
A nice representative selection, including the more uncommon early programs.
Item #407041
