Romare Bearden’s “The Train” (1975) is a powerful collage that explores themes of migration, displacement, and the African American experience. The composition presents a group of individuals inside a train, a recurring symbol in Bearden’s work that alludes to the Great Migration, during which millions of Black Americans moved from the rural South to urban centers in the North. The figures’ faces are constructed from layered and fragmented images, a technique that echoes Bearden’s unique approach to visual storytelling, blending elements of Cubism, African art, and social realism. The vibrant use of blue, green, and red hues enhances the emotional depth of the scene, reinforcing a sense of movement and transition. “The Train” captures the complexities of travel—not just physical relocation, but the emotional and cultural shifts that accompany it.