Untitled (Police Beating) 1943

Norman Lewis created this gouache painting, ‘Untitled (Police Beating)’, in 1943. The composition is a visceral depiction of brutality, dominated by bold colours and distorted forms. We see a dark, almost caricatured scene of violence as two figures, one in blue and the other in white, stand over another individual with dark skin on the ground who is bleeding. Lewis's use of abstraction here amplifies the emotional impact of the painting. The simplification of figures, the stark contrast in colors, and the gestural brushstrokes all serve to heighten the sense of chaos and injustice. Notice how the facial expressions are rendered with an almost grotesque simplicity, underscoring the dehumanization inherent in such acts of violence. The blood-red accents against the muted blues and whites create a jarring visual effect that intensifies the scene's unsettling nature. The painting exists as a commentary on the social and political context of its time, and its enduring relevance speaks to the continued presence of these issues in contemporary society. The formal elements of the painting work in tandem to create an experience that is both aesthetically striking and deeply thought-provoking.