The artwork, titled “Africa 5,” was created in 1970 by the artist Robert Motherwell. It belongs to the Abstract Expressionism movement and is categorized within the abstract genre.
The artwork features a composition primarily consisting of black shapes and forms set against a light background. Dominant in the piece is a large, oblong black shape situated towards the center of the canvas. Above it, extending upward, is an abstract, swirling form that creates a dynamic contrast with the stillness of the lower shape. Additional black banded elements are present at the bottom of the piece, further adding to the structural balance and contrast. The use of stark black against a light background embodies the principles of Abstract Expressionism, emphasizing the physical gesture of paint application and the emotional intensity conveyed through the abstraction.