The artwork “Black Athlete (Study #1)” by Benny Andrews, created in 1970, is a pen and ink drawing on paper, measuring 24 x 18 cm. It belongs to the Figurative Expressionism art movement and falls within the genre of sketch and study.
The artwork illustrates a minimalist yet evocative composition rendered in fine pen and ink lines. To the left, an abstract figure faces away, adorned with what appears to be botanical elements and a headdress, arms raised mid-gesture. To the right, another figure is seated, with its arms resting on the knees, exuding a contemplative aura. The absence of background details directs the viewer’s focus to the raw, expressive forms of the human figures, emphasizing their gestural and expressive qualities typical of Figurative Expressionism.
