Homeless 1973

George Pemba made 'Homeless' with paint, and probably brushes, in the mid-20th century. He wasn't afraid to let the strokes show! You can really see the movement, the way the colors blend right on the canvas. It feels honest, like Pemba's showing us his process, not just the final product. The colors here are vivid. Look at that strong blue in the background - it seems to pulse with life. The paint is thick and juicy, giving a real sense of weight to the scene. Notice the brushstrokes in the man's shirt, how they follow the form of his body? It is almost like Pemba's trying to sculpt the figure with paint. There's a rawness to it that’s very moving. Pemba’s work reminds me of painters like the German Expressionist, Kirchner. Both artists use color and form to express deep emotion and challenge the viewer. But Pemba is doing something unique, bringing his own experiences and perspective to the canvas, so we can see not just a painting, but a piece of lived reality.