“The Tenement,” created in 1948 by Norman Lewis, is an oil painting belonging to the Abstract Expressionism art movement. The artwork, a testament to abstract genre, showcases Lewis’s unique approach to form and color within a minimalist framework.
The artwork consists of an array of rectangular shapes of varying sizes and colors—red, yellow, blue, and white—set against a dark, nearly black background. The positioning of these blocks appears random, yet intentional, evoking a sense of urban structure and space that can be seen as reflecting the essence of a tenement. The stark contrast between the vibrant colors and the dark backdrop creates an atmosphere of depth and contemplation, characteristic of Abstract Expressionism.
