Ernie Barnes (American, 1938-2009). 1-2 Finish, 1973. Oil on canvas. 12 x 24 inches (30.5 x 61.0 cm). Signed lower right...

Description

Ernie Barnes (American, 1938-2009)
1-2 Finish, 1973
Oil on canvas
12 x 24 inches (30.5 x 61.0 cm)
Signed lower right: Ernie Barnes
Titled on the stretcher: 1-2 Finish

Property from the Estate of Saul and Shirley Turteltaub, Beverly Hills, California

PROVENANCE:
The artist;
Acquired by the present owner from the above, 1973.

Ernie Barnes's 1-2 Finish transforms athletic motion into visual architecture, uniting grace, geometry, and rhythm into a single breathless instant. The two hurdlers soar into the depths of the composition; their elongated limbs suspended in perfect synchrony. The hurdles themselves operate as twin frames within the pictorial space, their crisp geometry intersecting with the sweeping curve of the stadium. Around them, the crowd of spectators is rendered in loose, kinetic strokes that recede into abstraction, its hues mirroring the cloudy sky, which contrast against the deep red of the runner's uniforms.

Born in 1938 in Durham, North Carolina, during the height of the Jim Crow era, Barnes grew up in a segregated neighborhood known as "The Bottom." His father, Ernest Barnes Sr., was a shipping clerk for the Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company, while his mother, Fannie Geer, served as head housekeeper to a local attorney. Within that household, through the attorney's art books and exhibition catalogs, Barnes first discovered the paintings of the Old Masters, whose sculptural depictions of the human form would profoundly shape his aesthetic vision. In 1-2 Finish, their influence conjoins with Barnes's lived experience as an athlete, merging classical form with physical knowledge and lived experience. During his professional football career with the Baltimore Colts, New York Titans, San Diego Chargers, and Denver Broncos, Barnes deepened his understanding of the human form in a tangible, nuanced way few artists could match. He was even known to receive penalties for sketching amid timeouts on the field.

Every element in 1-2 Finish pulses with rhythmic energy-the hurdles marking intervals like musical notes, the figures' torsos twisting with choreographed precision. The contrast of the figures against pale sky, the curvature of the arena, and the poised equilibrium of the scene as a whole embody Barnes's belief that beauty can reside in struggle, and that motion itself is an act of grace. Among Barnes's most geometrically informed compositions, 1-2 Finish distills his lifelong pursuit: to ennoble the human body, to render physicality as poetry, and to affirm movement as a sacred language of freedom and endurance.

1-2 Finish is included in the forthcoming Ernie Barnes catalogue raisonné. We thank Luz Rodriguez for her assistance cataloguing this work.




*Heritage Auctions strives to provide as much information as possible but encourages in-person inspection by bidders. Statements regarding the condition of objects are only for general guidance and should not be relied upon as complete statements of fact, and do not constitute a representation, warranty or assumption of liability by Heritage. Some condition issues may not be noted in the condition report but are apparent in the provided photos which are considered part of the condition report. Please note that we do not de-frame lots estimated at $1,000 or less and may not be able to provide additional details for lots valued under $500. Heritage does not guarantee the condition of frames and shall not be liable for any damage/scratches to frames, glass/acrylic coverings, original boxes, display accessories, or art that has slipped in frames. All lots are sold "AS IS" under the Terms & Conditions of Auction.