In “Slave Ship” (1971), Romare Bearden confronts the brutal history of the transatlantic slave trade. The screenprint portrays a slave ship navigating turbulent waters, symbolizing the perilous journey endured by enslaved Africans during the Middle Passage. Bearden’s use of vivid colors and fragmented forms evokes the chaos and suffering of this dark chapter in history, serving as a poignant reminder of the resilience and strength of those who survived.