Untitled (Seven Figures) 1949

Charles Alston painted 'Untitled (Seven Figures)' sometime during his career as an artist, educator, and social activist in Harlem, New York. Alston was deeply engaged in the Civil Rights Movement, and his work often reflected the social and political realities of African Americans. This piece shows seven abstracted figures, seemingly women, rendered in muted tones. There's a solemnity to their postures, a sense of shared experience. Alston's figures, while not explicitly defined, evoke a sense of classical forms filtered through a modern lens. This approach rejects traditional representations, offering instead a dignified and communal narrative. As he once said, "You've got to find a way of saying something for yourself." In his paintings Alston sought to capture the essence of humanity within the Black experience. He wanted to show how the weight of history, the burden of oppression, and the joy of life could be intertwined. As you stand with these figures, consider the stories they hold and how they resonate with our own.