The American Collection (Ringgold)
''#5: Bessie's Blues''
### *\#5: Bessie's Blues*

*Bessie's Blues* depicts the face of blues singer [Bessie Smith](/wiki/Bessie_Smith "Bessie Smith") repeated 20 times in a square grid, rendered with a deep blue skin and with features and hair of varying shades of orange, peach, and yellow. Smith appears to be singing in the images, which are arranged and colored in the style of [Andy Warhol](/wiki/Andy_Warhol "Andy Warhol")'s signature repetitive portraits like *[Marilyn Diptych](/wiki/Marilyn_Diptych "Marilyn Diptych")* (1962\).

*Bessie's Blues* is in the collection of the [Art Institute of Chicago](/wiki/Art_Institute_of_Chicago "Art Institute of Chicago").


What is unique about the face of Bessie Smith depicted in the artwork?