Games - Sleight of Hand 1999

This lively painting is by Jacob Lawrence, but the date is unknown. Lawrence's blocks of colour, especially the blues and greens, feel so alive here! It's like he's not just depicting a scene, but constructing a whole world, piece by piece. Look at how he lays down the paint – flat, bold, each shape distinct. It's not about illusion; it's about the sheer joy of building something with color and form. See that figure on the left, locked in some mysterious gesture? The way he uses the contrasting colours here feels like the figures are constructed, like the blocks above. This piece reminds me of Stuart Davis, another artist who loved to play with geometric shapes and colour. Both artists remind us that art isn't just about representation. It's about seeing and thinking, and making something new out of what we find. It’s all just a game.