President’s Welcome

At the age of 17, Carl Berman Sr. sailed away on the first of what would be a lifelong series of exotic adventures.

But he was no mere tourist. No matter where he traveled—from the South American highlands to the south of France—he took his notebook, his pencils and brushes, his curiosity, and his keen eye for color. For him, it was not enough to merely see the world; from the beginning, he also sought to understand.

Much of the world that Mr. Berman recorded no longer exists, but his exquisitely detailed paintings remain, a living history, and I am especially pleased and proud that we can feature his work at University of Maryland University College. Mr. Berman was the quintessential lifelong learner, and it seems fitting that we should celebrate his work here, at an institution devoted to the hopes and dreams of lifelong learners the world over.

I hope that you are moved, as I was, by the beauty of these paintings, and also by the spirit and insight of the man who painted them. They are the fitting legacy to a life of exploration.