The Cop

Benny Andrews, an influential African American artist active in the mid-20th century, created The Cop in 1968, a work that exemplifies his dedication to figurative art and social commentary. Utilizing oil as his primary medium, Andrews combines powerful brushwork with elements of collage to produce a layered, dynamic composition. Rooted in Expressionism, the piece conveys intense emotion and confronts themes associated with authority and identity. The title The Cop directly references the subject matter, anchoring the work in a moment of cultural and political significance during the late 1960s.