Romare Bearden was an African American Artist. He was born in Charlotte, North Carolina then moved to New York City as a child. Bearden has done many different types of works including oil, cartoons and collage. Romare is best known for his collages. He is recognized as one of the most creative and original visual artists of the twentieth century. He fills his work with the symbols and myths of the American black experience. In this essay I will compare and contrast two of Romare’s pieces. It was difficult to narrow down to only two pieces because Romare has a large quantity of remarkable work. The two pieces I decided on are “The Block” and “Golgotha”. “The Block” was made in 1971. It shows a Harlem neighborhood with an optimistic spirit. The neighborhood shows a barbershop, a corner store, liquor store, a church and funeral parlor. The neighborhood seems lively with people outside on the sidewalk, children playing and pedestrians in a hurry. It gives you that feeling of daily life in Harlem. One unique aspect of the picture is that is shows you daily life indoors and outdoors at the same time. The collage shows people at home watching TV, people inside having a conversation and a couple making love. In this collage I see a lot of line being used. Line is a mark by pencil that forms part of the formal design of a picture. I see it with the different buildings. The lines used make it look like the buildings aren’t supposed to be together. The lines sort of make it seem like a puzzle. All the small pieces come together and form one big picture. The lines also separate the different worlds. In each world a different action is taking place, people outside and inside just living life. There are many lines going across and it adds to the beauty of the collage. I also see a unique use of color in this piece. Color can express a multitude of emotions and meanings. The blue sky stands out and brings life to the image. On the other hand the gray sidewalks bring a sad feeling to the image, so it sort of evens it out. There is also some black in this painting which adds a sense of sadness. All the different colors cause different emotions which make the picture authentic. On a busy block in Harlem there are many different emotions going on all at the same time and you experience this in “The Block”. In “The Block” there is a fine use of space. Space is either the total area within the painting or the areas between objects, persons or shapes. All the buildings are very close to each other, and there isn’t much space. This brings out the realistic feeling of being in Harlem. If Romare would have spaced between the buildings, I feel the piece would look awkward. On this one city block many stories can be told. Another piece of work by Romare Bearden that I found pleasant was “Golgotha.” “Golgotha” was made in 1945. It shows the crucifixion of Christ. To the left and right of the image you see onlookers. In this painting you see the body of Christ, but the way it’s seen is unique. His body isn’t all the same size. The head appears to be larger than the feet. This allows you to see and experience the agony of the crucifixion. The use of colors in this painting draws focus. The yellow and red are at the center of the painting which is where the main objects are located. The bright colors draw your eyes to the pain that Christ is going through. The red represent pain and anger yet the blue shows sorrow. The yellow represents the sun. The lines of the image are simple. The lines make it look as if the painter was just scribbling, yet the way the color and lines coincide it expresses the suffering.
These two images are very different. One main difference is the overall emotion of the two pieces. “The Block” has a more positive and optimistic feeling. You see people living daily life and the live Harlem atmosphere. On the other hand “Golgotha” has a more dreadful feeling. This piece shows Christ being crucified. This piece has a painful and sad vibe. The difference in colors controls the different emotion. In “the Block” there is a bright blue at the top of the entire piece. The blue brings life and a positive vibe to the piece; there aren’t really any dark appalling colors.
The spacing in the two pieces is different also. In “the Block” there isn’t much space between the objects. Everything is tight and close together. There are a lot of figures all doing different actions at the same time, which represents the fast city life. “Golgotha” is a little spaced out. The small amount of spacing shows distance so you can see the people on the side watching from afar.
Romare Bearden was a very talented artist. His use of color, line, and space brings the beauty out of his work. When you look at his paintings you can feel the emotion coming off the piece and you feel like you’re actually part of it. When you see view his work, stories form in your mind. I’m not really into art but I actually enjoyed observing his work. When you look at the work and think about the techniques the artist used you really understand the piece and the artists’ message.
