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Pâté de maisons

Romare Bearden American

1971

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 999

Ce tableau de la taille d’une fresque murale est un tribut à Harlem, le quartier où vivait Romare Bearden à New York. L’alignement de petits immeubles (logements, églises, coiffeur pour hommes, magasin de spiritueux) a été composé à partir de ses esquisses de l’avenue Lenox, entre 132^nd et 133^rd Street. Des vignettes montrent des gens qui travaillent, se reposent et jouent dans la rue ou dans leur appartement (on les voit « à travers » les fenêtres ou grâce à des découpes). Ce sont autant d’interprétations touchantes, parfois humoristiques, des relations humaines et des rituels sociaux tels que l’artiste les a observés. L’usage inventif du collage et les écarts inattendus de taille et d’échelle rendent bien l’énergie et la complexité de la vie urbaine. Certes, les images et les matériaux sont simples, mais Bearden les a chargés de sens en évoquant d’autres arts et d’autres cultures, dont la peinture Renaissance, l’iconographie chrétienne, le cubisme et la sculpture africaine.

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)

Titre: Pâté de maisons

Artiste: Romare Bearden, Américain, 1911–1988

Date: 1971

Technique: Papiers coupés et collés, imprimés, colorés et métalliques, photostats, mine de plomb, marqueur à l'encre, gouache, aquarelle et encre sur Masonite

Dimensions: Hors tout : 1,22 x 5,49 m ; chacun des six panneaux : 121,9 x 91,4 cm

Crédits: Don de M. et M^me Samuel Shore, 1978

Accession Number: 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.

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Exploring Power through Art

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