The Bench 

Ernie Barnes made ‘The Bench’ with oil on canvas to show his experience as a football player. Barnes’s choice of oil paint is critical, as its inherent qualities of substance, texture, weight, color and form, have shaped the work’s appearance. See how the thick application of paint creates a rough, almost sculptural surface. This tactile quality invites viewers to consider the physical exertion and labor involved in the scene depicted. The painting illustrates a poignant narrative centered around the experience of athletes, where the benches symbolize the boundaries of opportunity, struggle, and social dynamics. The use of raw, earthy tones emphasizes the physical nature of the sport, with the visible brushstrokes reflecting the artist's engagement with traditions in both painting and social commentary. By focusing on the materiality and craftsmanship, we understand how the medium of painting enhances the work’s meaning, challenging conventional distinctions between fine art and craft.