The Manger 1945

Romare Bearden created "The Manger" with paint and ink on board, a piece laden with personal and cultural history. Bearden grew up in a time of immense social change, deeply affected by his experiences during the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights Movement. In this work, Bearden reimagines the nativity scene. Through a mosaic of colors and forms, he invites us to consider the story of the newborn Christ child in a new light. Here, the figures are abstracted, almost Cubist, with Mary rendered in shades that diverge from traditional depictions, yet retain a tender reverence. Bearden once said, "You put something down and other things start to call to you." This piece, in its fragmented beauty, calls to us to consider how we interpret familiar narratives through the lens of identity and experience. Bearden's "The Manger" serves not just as a religious scene but also as a reflection on community, identity, and the shared human experience. It bridges the sacred with the personal.