No More Games (Study #5) 1970

Benny Andrews made this drawing, "No More Games (Study #5)", using ink on paper. What does it mean to declare an end to games? Andrews was a social realist, with a keen eye for the lives of ordinary people. He grew up in rural Georgia during the Jim Crow era and often addressed issues of race, poverty, and social justice in his work. The title suggests a weariness, a refusal to participate any longer in some kind of charade. Is this a comment on the games children play? Or is it a more pointed observation about the false pretenses on which society is based? The figures appear isolated and withdrawn, emphasizing a sense of disillusionment. Understanding Andrews' work fully requires delving into the history of the Civil Rights Movement and African American art. Examining exhibition catalogs, artists' statements, and critical reviews of his shows will all throw light on the institutions that shaped his production. These resources can help us understand how Andrews used art to confront social issues.