Fastbreak 1987

Ernie Barnes made this painting, Fastbreak, capturing a moment of frenetic energy in a basketball game with oil on canvas. The elongated limbs and expressive gestures are so distinctive, aren't they? It’s like the players are stretching beyond the limits of the canvas. Barnes really goes to town with the physicality of paint, giving it to us thick and juicy, especially in the foreground. Look how the light catches the court's surface, creating those amber pools. You can almost feel the squeak of sneakers on the polished wood. And the bodies! Each figure rendered with such attention to their musculature, emphasizing the strength and athleticism of the players. Then, if you look up, notice how the crowd is implied more than depicted, creating a sense of depth. It’s like a precursor to Peter Saul’s distorted figures and exaggerated expressions, but with a grace and rhythm all its own. It’s a world of movement and emotion that lingers long after the game is over.