Everyman Number 2 1984

George McNeil made this Everyman Number 2 with paint, probably oil, and definitely with a lot of energy! The colors are brash, almost acidic, and the figure seems to be bursting out of the dark ground. Look at how McNeil applies the paint: thick strokes, raw edges, and colors that vibrate against each other. This isn’t about rendering a perfect form; it’s about capturing the feeling of a body, the messiness of being alive. That big, red hand reaching out—is it asking for help? Or is it pushing us away? The green skin, outlined in red, feels both grotesque and vulnerable. McNeil's work reminds me a little of Guston. Both artists weren’t afraid to get ugly, to confront uncomfortable emotions head-on. Ultimately, this piece isn't trying to give us any easy answers. It embraces the contradictions, the tensions, and the ambiguities of human experience.