Barkley Hendricks Slick Essay
As soon as I walked past this painting in the Chrysler, I was immediately stricken by it and knew it would be the perfect candidate for my summer assignment. Barkley L. Hendricks’s “Slick” is visually stunning. The stark contrast between the white of the suit and the brown of the man’s skin easily grab the viewer’s attention. The contrast between black and white is not only a visual one, but also reflects the social and political conditions of the era it was created in.1 Despite the contrasts in the image, a sort of unity is also suggested. In the painting, Hendricks wears both a hip white suit and a traditional African cap. This combination suggests a marriage between the old and the new, unity between the past and the present.
A great amount of connection is seen both inside and outside of Hendricks’s work. His unique style contains elements of pop art, photo realism, minimalism, and Black Nationalism. It also serves as something of a bridge between the movements of realism and post modernism.2 Additionally, each of his …show more content…
works reflects and creates deep emotional connections. By painting each of his subjects in such a real way, he creates images that are both extremely intimate and larger-than-life. He does not paint characters, but he paints real people with real stories. Through his artwork, Hendricks aims to “elevate the common person to celebrity status.”3 This objective is what links him to pop art, seeing as pop art aims to glorify the ordinary.
At first glance, this painting is shockingly realistic. Seeming much closer to a photograph than a painting, it is a prime example of photo-realism. Popular between the mid-1960s and mid-1970s, artists worked to reproduce photographs through their artwork. This was not limited to paintings, but also included sculpture and other varieties of 2-D and 3-D art.4 Photo-realism is rather characteristic of Barkley L. Hendricks’s work. Even as he started out during the mid-60s, he had already developed a distinctive style for himself.5 In this work specifically, he uses oil, acrylic, and magna paints.6 The materials themselves are nothing entirely special, yet they create something truly great. This approach is similar to the way Hendricks aims to portray people.
When asked about his work, Hendricks explains that fashion is very central to his work just as it is in everyday life.7 Not only in this painting, but in his other works, the clothes are just as important as the individuals wearing them.
Shakespeare’s famous quotation, “clothes make the man,” could not ring truer than it does in the work of Hendricks. When looking at this work, one of the most important things to note is that it is a self-portrait. Because of this, the viewer must examine why the artist would choose to portray himself in the way he does. Seeing as it was painted in 1977, it is important to consider the social circumstances of the time period. Though the era known as the Civil Rights movement was over, the fight for social justice was still in full swing and the black empowerment movement was on the rise.8 By painting himself as such a strong, large, beautiful figure, he reflects a pride in both his identity and his
culture.
Though influential, Hendricks was only one of many incredible black artists in this time. The works of Romare Bearden and Beauford Delaney also serve as vehicles for empowerment and social change.9 Even in the 21st century, race relations are still an issue in our nation. The section of the Chrysler Museum where this painting is located has a variety of artworks that portray the black experience in America. Through these works, a viewer can gain a deeper understanding of social conditions and how they have evolved in some ways and remained the same in others.
A great amount of connection is seen both inside and outside of Hendricks’s work. His unique style contains elements of pop art, photo realism, minimalism, and Black Nationalism. It also serves as something of a bridge between the movements of realism and post modernism.2 Additionally, each of his …show more content…
works reflects and creates deep emotional connections. By painting each of his subjects in such a real way, he creates images that are both extremely intimate and larger-than-life. He does not paint characters, but he paints real people with real stories. Through his artwork, Hendricks aims to “elevate the common person to celebrity status.”3 This objective is what links him to pop art, seeing as pop art aims to glorify the ordinary.
At first glance, this painting is shockingly realistic. Seeming much closer to a photograph than a painting, it is a prime example of photo-realism. Popular between the mid-1960s and mid-1970s, artists worked to reproduce photographs through their artwork. This was not limited to paintings, but also included sculpture and other varieties of 2-D and 3-D art.4 Photo-realism is rather characteristic of Barkley L. Hendricks’s work. Even as he started out during the mid-60s, he had already developed a distinctive style for himself.5 In this work specifically, he uses oil, acrylic, and magna paints.6 The materials themselves are nothing entirely special, yet they create something truly great. This approach is similar to the way Hendricks aims to portray people.
When asked about his work, Hendricks explains that fashion is very central to his work just as it is in everyday life.7 Not only in this painting, but in his other works, the clothes are just as important as the individuals wearing them.
Shakespeare’s famous quotation, “clothes make the man,” could not ring truer than it does in the work of Hendricks. When looking at this work, one of the most important things to note is that it is a self-portrait. Because of this, the viewer must examine why the artist would choose to portray himself in the way he does. Seeing as it was painted in 1977, it is important to consider the social circumstances of the time period. Though the era known as the Civil Rights movement was over, the fight for social justice was still in full swing and the black empowerment movement was on the rise.8 By painting himself as such a strong, large, beautiful figure, he reflects a pride in both his identity and his
culture.
Though influential, Hendricks was only one of many incredible black artists in this time. The works of Romare Bearden and Beauford Delaney also serve as vehicles for empowerment and social change.9 Even in the 21st century, race relations are still an issue in our nation. The section of the Chrysler Museum where this painting is located has a variety of artworks that portray the black experience in America. Through these works, a viewer can gain a deeper understanding of social conditions and how they have evolved in some ways and remained the same in others.