Page "Charles Alston" Paragraph 19

Experimenting with the use of negative space and organic forms in the late 1940s, by the mid-1950s Alston began creating notably modernist style paintings.

Woman with Flowers ( 1949 ) has been described as a tribute to Modigliani and African art makes another strong appearance in Ceremonial ( 1950 ).

Untitled works during the era show his use of color overlay using muted colors to create simple layered abstracts of still live.

Symbol ( 1953 ) relates to Picasso's Guernica, which was a favorite work of Alston's.

His final work of the 1950s, Walking serves as a precursor to the 1960s: civil rights movement.

The painting, which was inspired by the Montgomery Bus Boycott, has come to represent " the surge of energy among African Americans to organize in their struggle for full equality.

" About the artwork, Alston is quoted " The idea of a march was growing ... It was in the air ... and this painting just came.

I called it Walking on purpose.

It wasn't the militancy that you saw later.

It was a very definite walk-not going back, no hesitation.