War Study #1 1974

Benny Andrews made this, War Study #1, with paint and collage; he’s piecing together a body, a self, a story. The colors are muted, raw; mostly blacks, browns, tans, all smeared and smudged like the aftermath of something. Up close, you can see the real fabric, the ropey string hanging loose, contrasting with the painted surfaces; his face a mess of dark tones, built-up impasto with these strange white, cartoon-like eyes, and those paper cut-out hands hovering in the air, disembodied. There’s this juxtaposition of vulnerability and aggression, like he’s saying, “Here I am, exposed,” but also, “Don’t mess with me.” The drips and the rough edges are very telling. It's so process-oriented. It’s about the doing, the making, the struggle to represent something real and raw. Andrews reminds me a little of Bob Thompson, who also dealt with themes of race and identity. But where Thompson is all swirling color and movement, Andrews is more grounded, more visceral. They both embrace ambiguity. They leave room for us to feel and think and question.