He is an American artist who depicted African American life through collages, oils, and cartoons (2). Here is one of his famous quotes, “The artist has to be something like a whale swimming with his mouth wide open, absorbing everything until he has what he really needs” (3). This quote really speaks to me because I think that it is true on many artistic levels. Moreover, I think one reason why Bearden is a collagist is because he absorbs everything in his pictures. He uses all types of paper to make his collages, thus absorbing all the information. Then giving the collage what it needs. One of his most famous pictures is The Block, and he created this masterpiece in 1971(4). Just on one block, he is depicting the lives and interactions of many. In one building, there is a fire and lives are at stake. Additionally, there is a building that has hardly any movement. The diversity on one block is astounding. Attached at the bottom, is a picture of his famous work. Finally, I think the lesson we can learn from Romare Bearden, is to look at the big picture. Sometimes in life we have to move a step back and take everything in before …show more content…
So Appealing,” are true masterpieces. They both convey strong messages that speak dearly to me. After evaluating both of these collages, I have a new respect and appreciation for them. As a collagist, it is not easy to connect all the pieces at one time. It takes time and practice in order to hide the truth, so I can discover it. I will admit, at the beginning of this paper, I did not enjoy The Block, but after evaluating and looking at the colors and texture, I realized how magnificent the collage and its message was altogether. When I saw the collage “Just What Is It That Makes Today’s Homes So Different. So Appealing,” I immediately fell in love with it. However, I do not appreciate the nudity, but I do enjoy the color schemes and the textures Hamilton used. When first looking at a picture, I have to be extra careful not to judge right away. Art is delicate, so when viewing it, I and everyone else should be extra careful, so we can learn to appreciate the masterpiece for what it represents and not just what it looks or feels