My Man 1980

Ernie Barnes painted 'My Man' with oils on canvas, and it's all about that profile, right? The way he’s built up the shades of brown in the skin is just gorgeous. You can feel the touch, the brushstrokes layering up the colour, finding the light. And look at the lips, those almost pursed lips are the focal point, aren't they? The way Barnes has painted them, with soft pinks and browns, gives them such a palpable sense of tension. Are they about to speak, or about to kiss? The paint is relatively thin in places, especially in the background, which creates a nice contrast with the thicker, more defined areas of the face. Barnes, like Jacob Lawrence, was really interested in depicting Black life and culture. The vulnerability in this piece is strong, and you can tell Barnes is looking with such a gentle eye. There's a real sense of empathy in the way he's rendered the details.