Publishers Weekly recently reviewed Janice N. Harrington’s new book, Primitive: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin. According to the review, "poet and children’s author Harrington pays tribute to African-American painter Horace Pippin (1888–1946), presenting ekphrastic poems about the painter’s work alongside historical insights into his aesthetic choices and his journals."

The review offers some background on Pippin’s life, lending insight into why Harrington chose this compelling artist as her subject. Through her poems, Harrington looks at Pippin’s past, especially his time spent as a solider, and how it influenced his art.

"The artist’s own words lend poignancy to the poems and underscore the sense of dread that haunts his images. This collection not only recalls specific paintings by Pippin but returns to the ideas of satisfaction emerging in the process of painting, and painting exactly what he saw. These two recurring ideas lend weight to his experiences as a veteran during the Jim Crow era."

PW concludes: "Harrington gracefully honors Pippin’s words and work through her spare lines, strong sense of narrative, and subtle sonic repetitions."

Click here to read the full PW review.

Primitive: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin is available now at the BOA Bookstore.