The artwork titled “Circle Study #10,” created by Benny Andrews in 1972, utilizes oil and collage as its mediums. This piece falls under the art movements of Expressionism and Surrealism and belongs to the “Bicentennial” series. It is executed on a canvas measuring 48 x 42 cm, and is representative of the figurative genre.
The artwork vividly captures a surreal and expressive scene featuring an abstract configuration atop a vividly colored and patterned surface. At the center, a structure resembling a makeshift canopy or assemblage of tattered fabric is mounted on a purposefully crude frame, casting a pronounced shadow to its right. This setup rests upon a bed featuring a checkerboard pattern composed of vibrant red, orange, and green hues. The striking contrasts between the meticulously rendered textures and the exaggerated and distorted forms evoke a sense of both nostalgia and disquiet, hallmark traits of both Surrealism and Expressionism. The interplay of materials and textures, alongside the innovative use of collage, imparts a dynamic depth and narrative ambiguity to the piece.
