Wounded Sargent 1970

This is Benny Andrews’ Wounded Sargent, dimensions 20 x 16 cm. There's a real intensity in the way Andrews uses his materials here. He’s not just painting; he’s building, layering, almost collaging the surface into something that feels both fragile and strong. I imagine Andrews, leaning in close, wrestling with the paint, trying to capture something about vulnerability and the scars of experience. Look at how the colors clash and vibrate. The ochre and reds are not easy on the eye. This tension makes me think about the emotional weight of the subject. The paint is thick in some places, scraped back in others, revealing the history of its making. It’s a kind of mapping of the artist’s thought process. Andrews' expressionistic style reminds me of other artists who weren't afraid to push the boundaries of representation. Ultimately, artists are always having a conversation across time. They borrow, steal, and transform ideas, inspiring each other to see the world in new ways.