The Collection
The American Wing Ancient Near Eastern Art Arms and Armor The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing Asian Art The Cloisters The Costume Institute Drawings and Prints Egyptian Art European Paintings European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Greek and Roman Art Islamic Art Robert Lehman Collection The Libraries Medieval Art Musical Instruments Photographs Antonio Ratti Textile Center Modern and Contemporary Art

Der Block

Romare Bearden American

1971

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 999

Dieses wandgemäldegroße Tableau ist ein Tribut an Beardens Harlemer Nachbarschaft in New York City. Die Zeile aus niedrigen Gebäuden (Mietwohnungen, Kirchen, Friseur, Schnapsladen) basiert auf seinen Zeichnungen der Lenox Avenue zwischen 132. und 133. Straße. Separate Vignetten von Menschen bei der Arbeit, beim Ausruhen, beim Spiel auf der Straße und in Gebäuden (durch Fenster und Ausschnitte sichtbar) bieten manchmal humorvolle Beobachtungen menschlicher Beziehungen und sozialer Rituale. Beardens innovative Collagetechnik und seine unerwarteten Größen- und Maßänderungen zur expressiven Betonung fangen gekonnt die Energie und Komplexität des städtischen Lebens ein. Obwohl seine Bilder und Materialien einfach waren, fügte Bearden Bedeutungsebenen mit Referenzen an andere Künste und Kulturen, wie die Renaissancemalerei, christliche Ikonographie und afrikanische Stammesskulpturen ein.

The Block, Romare Bearden (American, Charlotte, North Carolina 1911–1988 New York), Cut and pasted printed, colored and metallic papers, photostats, graphite, ink marker, gouache, watercolor, and ink on Masonite — Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

The Block, Romare Bearden (American, Charlotte, North Carolina 1911–1988 New York), Cut and pasted printed, colored and metallic papers, photostats, graphite, ink marker, gouache, watercolor, and ink on Masonite

The Block, Romare Bearden (American, Charlotte, North Carolina 1911–1988 New York), Cut and pasted printed, colored and metallic papers, photostats, graphite, ink marker, gouache, watercolor, and ink on Masonite

The Block, Romare Bearden (American, Charlotte, North Carolina 1911–1988 New York), Cut and pasted printed, colored and metallic papers, photostats, graphite, ink marker, gouache, watercolor, and ink on Masonite

The Block, Romare Bearden (American, Charlotte, North Carolina 1911–1988 New York), Cut and pasted printed, colored and metallic papers, photostats, graphite, ink marker, gouache, watercolor, and ink on Masonite

The Block, Romare Bearden (American, Charlotte, North Carolina 1911–1988 New York), Cut and pasted printed, colored and metallic papers, photostats, graphite, ink marker, gouache, watercolor, and ink on Masonite

The Block, Romare Bearden (American, Charlotte, North Carolina 1911–1988 New York), Cut and pasted printed, colored and metallic papers, photostats, graphite, ink marker, gouache, watercolor, and ink on Masonite

The Block, Romare Bearden (American, Charlotte, North Carolina 1911–1988 New York), Cut and pasted printed, colored and metallic papers, photostats, graphite, ink marker, gouache, watercolor, and ink on Masonite

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Left panel of six (1978.61.1)

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Second panel from left of six (1978.61.2)

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Third panel from left of six (1978.61.3)

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Fourth panel from left of six (1978.61.4)

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Fifth panel from left of six (1978.61.5)

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Right panel of six (1978.61.6)

Titel: Der Block

Künstler: Romare Bearden, Amerikaner, 1911–1988

Datum: 1971

Medium: Cut-and-Paste-Druck, farbiges, metallisches Papier, Fotokopien, Graphit, Tintenmarker, Gouache, Wasserfarbe, Tinte auf Masonit

Dimensionen: Insgesamt 1,22 x 5,49 m Sechs Tafeln, jeweils 121,9 x 91,4 cm

Anerkennung: Schenkung von Mr. und Mrs. Samuel Shore 1978

Akzession Nr.: 1978.61.1–.6

Detail of Romare Bearden's "The Block," a collage of diverse elements including urban scenes, portraits, and abstract shapes in a vibrant composition.

The Block

I am startled by the intimacy the mural grants us.

collage of a harlem block with two buildings. A jazz band plays and children also play on the street.

The Sounds of The Block

How does the rediscovery of an audio component for Romare Bearden’s monumental collage transform our understanding of it?

Views of The Met's three campuses: The Met Breuer, The Met Fifth Avenue, and The Met Cloisters

Curator Interview: Romare Bearden's The Block

Associate Email Marketing Manager Jennette Mullaney interviewed Lisa M. Messinger, associate curator in the Department of Nineteenth-Century, Modern, and Contemporary Art, about Romare Bearden's masterful, mural-size collage The Block.

Blue text on white background that reads "Social and Emotional Learning Through Art: Lessons for the Classroom

Social and Emotional Learning Through Art

Use this practical resource featuring works in The Met collection as a catalyst to help your students gain and develop social and emotional learning skills.

Blue text on white background that reads Exploring Power through Art

Exploring Power through Art

This curriculum resource, consisting of engaging lessons written by K–12 teachers, provides inspiration and techniques for investigating the theme of “power” using a wide range of artworks from The Met collection.

The Met's Libraries and Research Centers provide unparalleled resources for research and welcome an international community of students and scholars.

The Met Collection API is where all makers, creators, researchers, and dreamers can connect to the most up-to-date data and public domain images for The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

The Met

Modern and Contemporary Art at The Met

The Met's engagement with art from 1890 to today includes the acquisition and exhibition of works in a range of media, spanning movements in modernism to contemporary practices from across the globe.