Girl in a Red Dress 1934

Charles Alston made Girl in a Red Dress with what looks like oil paint and maybe some lovely, soft brushes. The texture is really interesting, right? The paint isn’t trying to trick you into thinking it’s anything other than paint, you can see each stroke and how they build up to create the form. Look at the red of the dress, it isn't flat, it’s got all these undercurrents of color, and it makes the whole thing feel alive. And then there's that stark white collar, almost like a dare. It's not blended perfectly; it's kind of rough and ready, which I adore. It gives a realness to the piece. Alston was interested in the everyday, and you can see that here. There is something so beautiful and understated about the picture. It is reminiscent of painters like Alice Neel who could do so much with the simplest of means. It embraces all the mess and uncertainty.