Patchwork Quilt 1970

This collage by Romare Bearden, titled "Patchwork Quilt," just sings with color and pattern. I can almost imagine Bearden sorting through scraps of fabric, each piece holding a memory. Look at how he's built up this scene, layering shapes and textures to create a figure reclining on what looks like a patchwork quilt. There’s a real tactile quality to the work. I can see the artist building up this composition, and each layer is a decision. I'm struck by how the flatness of the shapes contrasts with the depth created by the overlapping patterns. It's like Bearden is playing with perspective, inviting us to piece together the narrative ourselves. You can see echoes of Matisse's cut-outs and Picasso's collages here. Artists like Bearden build on what's come before, finding their own voice through material and form.