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Faith Ringgold — Somebody Stole My Broken Heart
Faith Ringgold

Somebody Stole My Broken Heart

2007

Faith Ringgold's "Somebody Stole My Broken Heart" immediately captivates with its dynamic portrayal of a jazz performance, rendered in a striking palette of reds, blues, and yellows. At the heart of the composition, a vibrant female vocalist, clad in a patterned yellow dress, commands the stage, her arms outstretched as if embracing the music or the audience. She is flanked by three male musicians, each deeply immersed in their craft: a saxophonist, an upright bass player, and a drummer, whose rhythmic contributions are almost palpable. The intense red background, animated by swirling blue lines, vibrates with the energy of the scene, creating a sense of movement and sound that spills beyond the central frame into a decorative, quilt-like border. This energetic visual language, characterized by bold outlines and expressive figures, is instantly recognizable as a hallmark of Ringgold's distinctive style, celebrating the richness of Black musical traditions. The evocative title, "Somebody Stole My Broken Heart," lends a narrative depth to the scene, echoing the poignant and often bittersweet themes found in blues and jazz lyrics. This screenprint, created in 2007, exemplifies Ringgold's enduring commitment to storytelling through art, particularly her exploration of African American cultural heritage and the powerful role of music in communal life. Her work often draws from personal experiences and historical narratives, transforming them into universally resonant images. As an accomplished screenprint in colors, the piece showcases Ringgold's mastery of the medium, allowing for the precise layering of her vivid hues and graphic forms. This editioned work offers collectors a significant example of Ringgold's celebrated contributions to contemporary art, embodying her unique fusion of folk art aesthetics with sophisticated social commentary.

Medium
Screenprint in colors
Location
Wright, Chicago, United States

🔨 Auction Lot

Wright: 20|21 Art: The Chicago Edition (July 2022)

July 14, 2022

Estimate: $3,000 to $5,000

Lot 283

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Spotted works by Faith Ringgold

About this work

Faith Ringgold, Somebody Stole My Broken Heart, 2007

Faith Ringgold's "Somebody Stole My Broken Heart" immediately captivates with its dynamic portrayal of a jazz performance, rendered in a striking palette of reds, blues, and yellows. At the heart of the composition, a vibrant female vocalist, clad in a patterned yellow dress, commands the stage, her arms outstretched as if embracing the music or the audience. She is flanked by three male musicians, each deeply immersed in their craft: a saxophonist, an upright bass player, and a drummer, whose rhythmic contributions are almost palpable. The intense red background, animated by swirling blue lines, vibrates with the energy of the scene, creating a sense of movement and sound that spills beyond the central frame into a decorative, quilt-like border. This energetic visual language, characterized by bold outlines and expressive figures, is instantly recognizable as a hallmark of Ringgold's distinctive style, celebrating the richness of Black musical traditions. The evocative title, "Somebody Stole My Broken Heart," lends a narrative depth to the scene, echoing the poignant and often bittersweet themes found in blues and jazz lyrics. This screenprint, created in 2007, exemplifies Ringgold's enduring commitment to storytelling through art, particularly her exploration of African American cultural heritage and the powerful role of music in communal life. Her work often draws from personal experiences and historical narratives, transforming them into universally resonant images. As an accomplished screenprint in colors, the piece showcases Ringgold's mastery of the medium, allowing for the precise layering of her vivid hues and graphic forms. This editioned work offers collectors a significant example of Ringgold's celebrated contributions to contemporary art, embodying her unique fusion of folk art aesthetics with sophisticated social commentary.

Medium
Screenprint in colors
Year
2007
Seen at
Wright, Chicago, United States

Related themes

Decorative Border, Cultural Heritage, Music Scene, Red And Blue, Bold Color, Folk Influence, American, Narrative Art, Performance Scene, Female Figure, African American, Screenprint, Black Artist, Figurative Art, Expressive Figures, Portrait, Jazz, Contemporary Art, Storytelling, Female Artist, Quilt Inspired, Community Life

More works by Faith Ringgold

Collected by

Art Institute of Chicago