Romare Bearden
"The Train"
1975
In Bearden's "The Train" I see four brown individuals, two with a red, green cap on their head, assuming the individuals are African American. They're many lines in this piece in front of the four characters with mostly black/white color with some emphasized colors such as red. A baby blue, and green are also presented in front of the four characters. In the background of Bearden's piece are many horizontal, and vertical line with different textures. These lines are covered in yellow, baby blue, and green, other parts of the background are black and white.
In the piece Bearden uses variety in the way the piece looks like a collage. though the piece seems completely a variety the artist uses emphasis on the subject with red, green, and brown, while shadowing the background with much lighter colors, including light shades of black. This piece has many rectangular shapes covered by the "molded" looking texture, and color.
To continue this artwork is a metaphor to the underground railroad. Bearden portrays African Americans on a train escaping slavery. Although the subjects are escaping slavery, in the piece the subject, and artwork look somber knowing segregation continues. Bearden wants the audience to understand although African Americans overcame one obstacle, there are many more obstacles ahead. This artwork reminds me of the 1800s, when the underground railroad took place. If i could speak with Bearden I would ask him why didn't he mute color, using transparent light to represent the joy of the African Americans escaping slavery.
In final the strengths of the work are the metaphor presented, making the viewer put pieces together to conclude an overall message, with strong use of art principles and elements. Although this piece thrives in elements, the weakness in this piece is the lack of color presented by Bearden. The artist communicates ideas by creating a collage, scattering information to help the audience paint a "bigger picture". I disliked "The Train" because Bearden's meaning behind the peace never becomes clear, making a chance for the audience to interpret the piece differently. The best part of this work is the mood given by Bearden, a correct depiction from the time Bearden's piece takes place.
"The Train"
1975
In Bearden's "The Train" I see four brown individuals, two with a red, green cap on their head, assuming the individuals are African American. They're many lines in this piece in front of the four characters with mostly black/white color with some emphasized colors such as red. A baby blue, and green are also presented in front of the four characters. In the background of Bearden's piece are many horizontal, and vertical line with different textures. These lines are covered in yellow, baby blue, and green, other parts of the background are black and white.
In the piece Bearden uses variety in the way the piece looks like a collage. though the piece seems completely a variety the artist uses emphasis on the subject with red, green, and brown, while shadowing the background with much lighter colors, including light shades of black. This piece has many rectangular shapes covered by the "molded" looking texture, and color.
To continue this artwork is a metaphor to the underground railroad. Bearden portrays African Americans on a train escaping slavery. Although the subjects are escaping slavery, in the piece the subject, and artwork look somber knowing segregation continues. Bearden wants the audience to understand although African Americans overcame one obstacle, there are many more obstacles ahead. This artwork reminds me of the 1800s, when the underground railroad took place. If i could speak with Bearden I would ask him why didn't he mute color, using transparent light to represent the joy of the African Americans escaping slavery.
In final the strengths of the work are the metaphor presented, making the viewer put pieces together to conclude an overall message, with strong use of art principles and elements. Although this piece thrives in elements, the weakness in this piece is the lack of color presented by Bearden. The artist communicates ideas by creating a collage, scattering information to help the audience paint a "bigger picture". I disliked "The Train" because Bearden's meaning behind the peace never becomes clear, making a chance for the audience to interpret the piece differently. The best part of this work is the mood given by Bearden, a correct depiction from the time Bearden's piece takes place.