African Theme III 1953

Charles Alston made this painting, "African Theme III," with what looks like oil paint, and maybe other stuff mixed in. It’s like he’s building up the surface as he goes. The colors are so earthy – browns, tans, with bits of white peeking through, giving it this worn, almost ancient feel. You can see how the paint is applied in layers, thick in some spots, thin in others, with scratchy lines. It gives the surface this incredible texture, almost like looking at weathered stone. Look at the center of the canvas, where these two sort of flower-like shapes sit. They feel tender amidst the rougher marks around them. In a way, "African Theme III" reminds me of Dubuffet, with this shared interest in raw, primal forms and materials. I find it exciting how Alston lets the painting be a space for ambiguity. It doesn't pin anything down. It invites us to see and feel, rather than just understand.