The Bean & the Scene: Drawings of Boston and Cambridge

by Barbara Westman

"Barbara Westman's love of life, her exuberance, her personal style and flair are all reflected in her art. Born in Boston, she played in its Public Garden as a child, grew up in its suburbs and currently lives in Cambridge. Her mother was a concert pianist, her father an architect. Her early years were 'full of castles in Spain and rooftops in Rome,' she recalls. From them she learned early to love places and people. Barbara Westman has travelled widely in Europe where she 'learned to see,' absorbed its atmosphere, and became increasingly interested in the graphic arts. She sees Boston with the fresh perspective of a newcomer yet the loving familiarity of a native. This collection of watercolor drawings captures the full range of Boston's diverse past and present: from elegant Beacon Hill to lively Hanover Street, from the Old North Church to Harvard Square. Barbara Westman is an accomplished artist and a skilled craftswoman whose style encompasses the classic elegance of a row of Federal houses, the majestic sweep of the Charles River, or the tense eager faces of the young at play, and the bustle of city streets and market squares. The brief but evocative text is fitting accompaniment to Barbara Westman's lively drawings."
-from the dust-jacket

36 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1969

Reviews

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw a few pages from this book on instagram and was seized with nostalgia for the Cambridge scenes I recall from my 80s era college days. I was able to find a copy online. I'm not sure if this was intended as a children's book-- the site where I saw it was themed as such. I think it may have just been a collection of illustrations built around a theme, Boston and Cambridge. You found such books in the 60s, 70s and maybe even into the 90s. There is some text but it isn't really a text driven work, it's very much a love letter to the look and feel of Boston and Cambridge.

I looked Westman up and read she eventually moved to NYC, where she did many illustrations for the New Yorker and a number of covers. She worked at Harvard and the online Gazette has an interesting article about her life and work that mentions how her posters could be found all over Harvard Square. So I imagine I saw her work in the late 80s and early 90s when I lived in the vicinity. The work is immersive, detailed and inviting.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting scenes and intro. Great observations and definitely a reference for what life in Boston was like while Westman was creating these. I wish the book itself was larger for there are details lost in the shrinking of these scenes. Also, I think the volume could have had more to it. Still lovely.