Untitled (1960) is a clear moment in time. One day, under strong Parisian light, a man put his brush to paper and created something beautiful. Delaney thought of his mark making like calligraphy, a personal language, each flick of the wrist an attempt to communicate. After dealing with years of racial oppression and social injustice in America, Beauford Delaney moved to Paris in 1953 and lived there until his death in 1979. He existed on the verge of poverty and made a humble life with the assistance of friends, including American gallerist Darthea Speyer, and the renowned writer, James Baldwin.

Other works by Beauford Delaney