Romare Bearden’s “The Block” (1971) is a six-panel collage that presents a layered, dynamic view of Harlem’s streets. Through a fusion of cut-paper images, painted elements, and overlapping textures, Bearden creates a visual narrative that reflects African-American life, migration, and memory. The piece draws inspiration from the improvisational nature of jazz, structuring its composition like a musical arrangement—fragmented yet harmonized. Each window and doorway opens into a unique story, making “The Block” a powerful testament to Bearden’s gift for storytelling in art.