Buffalo Soldiers 1976

Curator: This is Ernie Barnes's "Buffalo Soldiers," created in 1976 using oil paint. It’s an energetic and complex piece, to say the least. What are your initial impressions? Editor: Dynamic! The composition—the rush of figures, the color choices—everything converges to evoke raw movement and even tension. Look at the anatomical elongation. Curator: Barnes’s approach to anatomy is intentional; he sought to convey the energy and soul of his subjects. In the context of the Buffalo Soldiers—African American cavalry regiments of the U.S. Army who served in the American West—it becomes incredibly poignant. These figures represent so much more than simply soldiers on horseback. They embody perseverance in the face of prejudice. Editor: The swirling brushstrokes certainly contribute to this frenetic mood. Do you find that these aesthetic choices heighten the romanticized narrative of courage in battle, perhaps even softening the brutality? Curator: I believe Barnes confronts that brutality head-on by showing these heroic individuals who simultaneously combatted Indigenous populations at the behest of the American government. Consider also the complex intersections of race, power, and representation present here. Editor: Semiotically speaking, the horses also bear a significant burden. As symbols of power and freedom, they mirror, perhaps even amplify, the struggles and aspirations. Curator: Exactly. The figures become allegorical for an ongoing struggle for equality and recognition that pervades our understanding of the U.S. Editor: Even the seemingly simple color palette speaks volumes: the dustiness of the earth against the brilliant blue of the uniforms, this inherent discord that further emphasizes strife and resolution, visually layering conflict within form. Curator: It all combines to encourage deep examination, moving viewers to engage with critical histories through visual language. I think we have only scratched the surface on what is really on view in Barnes’s dynamic interpretation of a contested time. Editor: Agreed. An artwork that speaks of both inherent conflict and beautiful motion, it truly captures an eternal historical story.