The Grey Cat 1979

Romare Bearden made ‘The Grey Cat’ without a known date using collage. Isn't it amazing how artists can create entire worlds out of paper? This is a rich interior with a figure, and you can see how he puts together different textures, like the soft greys and blues of the walls. The figure in the foreground has the grey cat, after which the piece is named, at their feet. I’m drawn to the way Bearden used contrasting colors and shapes, like the red and orange checkered floor versus the purple and pink scene in the background, to create depth and rhythm. The tactility of the cut paper adds another dimension. The figure at the center of the picture plane is dressed in a red and white striped smock, which draws your eye, contrasting with the muted tones elsewhere. He holds what seems like a baby. It is from here, the interior world is built, constructed from shapes and patterns. Bearden’s work reminds me of Matisse's late collages, but with a uniquely African American perspective and sensibility. Both artists embraced the possibilities of collage as a way to explore form, color, and narrative. It's this tension between representation and abstraction that keeps me hooked.