Abstract figures 

Walter Battiss made this ‘Abstract Figures’ painting with the medium of oil on canvas. The artist employed a medley of techniques to render the canvas; thick brushstrokes in areas give way to carefully outlined figures and shapes. The canvas, the foundation of the work, peeks through between swathes of layered pigment. The artist uses color to flatten the image, as opposed to creating depth, reminiscent of Matisse. Battiss' work defies traditional hierarchies between fine art and craft. This piece is so compelling precisely because of its materiality, the way the paint is applied and the colors interact. It serves as a reminder to look closely at how things are made and how the making process imbues objects with social and cultural meaning.