Norman Lewis 1985

Benny Andrews made this painting, Norman Lewis, with paint on canvas. I’m struck by the reductive nature of the palette here. The painting’s made up of these grey, black, and white tones. It’s like Andrews is saying, “I can do a lot with a little.” There’s a real physicality to the paint. It looks like he’s applied it in distinct layers. The suit is a velvety black, thick and opaque. But the face, with its varying shades of grey, feels almost transparent. Look at the way the light catches the figure’s right hand as he holds that cigarette. It’s stark, almost sculptural. It gives the painting a real sense of depth. Andrews reminds me of Jacob Lawrence. Both artists capture the essence of their subjects with an economy of means. But Andrews adds this layer of tactile materiality that makes you want to reach out and touch the canvas. He's showing us that art isn't about perfection; it's about the process. It’s about the conversation between the artist, the material, and the world.