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Norman Lewis (1909-1979) was a pivotal figure in 20th-century American art. He navigated the complex social landscape of the art world during the Harlem Renaissance, the Great Depression, and the postwar rise of abstract expressionism. His unique style blended abstraction with figuration and social commentary.
'Roller Coaster' by Norman Lewis, 1946.
Although I'm most fond of his purely abstract expressionist work, I love how his 1945 painting "Untitled (Subway Station)" encapsulates the power of his style—how his paintings subtly yet profoundly embody his important social commentary. This painting depicts a bustling subway platform, a microcosm of urban life. It captures the energy and anonymity of the scene and the diverse social fabric of New York City.
'Untitled (Subway Station)' by Norman Lewis, 1945.
The figures are abstracted, their forms reduced to essential lines and colors. This abstraction, however, doesn't diminish the painting's social commentary. Rather, I find that the ambiguity of the abstraction allows his commentary to be communicated without having to spell it out. The abstraction of the crowd is suggestive of the racial and economic disparities characterizing his contemporary postwar America. The abstraction also creates anonymity, which hints at both individuality and the interconnectedness of the diverse working class lives coexisting in the city.
'Exodus' by Norman Lewis, 1972.
Racism in the art world largely kept Lewis from achieving the notoriety he deserved relative to the other (white) abstract expressionists of his time. Nonetheless, his legacy endures and he has, in recent years, gained more recognition for the significant role he and his paintings played in shaping the postwar American art landscape.
Pete Stein
Founder, Galerie Stein
Montreal
Galerie Stein will be presenting more contemporary abstract expressionist artists in 2025, both virtually at GalerieStein.com and in our gallery. Contact: Pete Stein at peter@GalerieStein.com.