Study for Portrait of Oppression (Homage to Black South Africans) 1985

Benny Andrews' 1985 "Study for Portrait of Oppression (Homage to Black South Africans)" is a powerful mixed media work on canvas. The piece depicts a Black figure, whose face is partially obscured by a mask, and their body is adorned with bloodstains on a torn white shirt. A chain hangs in the background, symbolizing the oppression experienced by Black South Africans. Andrews' artwork brings to light the struggles and injustices faced by this marginalized group, prompting viewers to contemplate the complex social and political realities of the time.