Spring Way 1964

Romare Bearden made this collage, called Spring Way, using paper and board. The way he fits the different shapes together creates a kind of urban puzzle. The color palette is fascinating – it’s not just about the colors themselves, but how they interact. There are muted tones, like the grays and browns of the buildings, juxtaposed with these unexpected pops of red and pink. These pinks have this energy that bring the whole scene to life. Look at how a jagged red triangle sits next to the solid black rectangles. It’s a bold choice, and it works. It's a conversation, right? And that’s what art is, an ongoing conversation with the materials. Bearden invites us to join that conversation, to bring our own interpretations to the table. There are no right or wrong answers here, just different ways of seeing.