Scrum 1980

Ernie Barnes made this painting called Scrum, we don't know exactly when, but what's exciting is how he's gone at it. It's all about bodies, right? But they're not just *there*; they're pushing, straining, almost exploding off the canvas with this wild energy. Look at the earthy colors, those browns and reds, and the way he slathers the paint on. It's not neat or polite; it's physical, like you can feel the grit and sweat of the game. Thick brushstrokes build up muscle and bone, and then he'll use a lighter touch to hint at a shadow or a curve. Check out the hands reaching out near the bottom left – they're not just hands, they're claws digging into the ground. That kind of intensity reminds me of some of Francis Bacon's paintings, where the figures are all twisted and raw. Barnes isn’t trying to tell you one specific thing. It's more about the feeling, the messy, powerful feeling of being in the thick of it all.