More of Beauford's Blues

I recently came across an article on color psychology that described various reactions to and interpretations of the color "blue."

It reminded me that Les Amis has published two articles about Beauford's use of this color:

Beauford's Blues - Part 1

Beauford"s Blues - Part 2

And it inspired me to look for additional works that feature light blue, a color that is frequently associated with relaxation, tranquility, and peace.

Untitled
(1960) Gouache and watercolor on paper
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York, NY

Self-portrait
(Undated) Oil on board
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York, NY

Untitled
(1962) Oil on canvas
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York, NY

Beauford's Geographies

The Light Beyond the Canvas catalog for The Beauford Delaney Papers—the largest existing archive for Beauford's life and work—provides an intriguing glimpse into the wonders of this archive, which is held by the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives at the University of Tennessee Knoxville University Libraries.

Light Beyond the Canvas catalog
© Les Amis de Beauford Delaney

The catalog places considerable emphasis on Beauford's "geographies"—the places and spaces he navigated in Knoxville, New York, and Paris. A sketchbook map of the Odéon and Saint Germain districts of Paris illustrates this beautifully.

Left Bank Paris Map, c. 1950s
Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives,
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York, NY

Seeing this image in the catalog reminded me of the Beauford Delaney in Saint-Germain-des-Prés walking tour that Entrée to Black Paris tours created to support the exhibition the library has curated to celebrate the acquisition of the archive.

It also inspired me to look up the article about Beauford in Saint Germain that Les Amis published in April 2015:

Beauford's Paris: Saint Germain des Prés

This is one of many articles that fall under the category "Beauford's Paris." Les Amis has published numerous articles about Beauford's haunts in Knoxville, Boston, and New York City as well.

Light Beyond the Canvas will be on display in the exhibit area of the University Libraries through May 2026.