African Figures and Birds 

Walter Battiss painted ‘African Figures and Birds’ using oil on canvas, with fluid brushstrokes. The painting looks spontaneous, but this belies the artist’s hand in carefully applying the paint and using the canvas's surface. The figures are rendered in warm yellows and oranges, with gestural outlines giving them a sense of movement. Above them, layers of blue and white create a sky filled with abstract birds, each one a small, deliberate mark. Battiss was interested in the way that modern art could connect with the art of ancient cultures, and his work often combines these influences. In "African Figures and Birds," the figures evoke a sense of community and connection to the land, rendered with a modernist sensibility. This reflects Battiss's broader project to celebrate African identity. Battiss’s choice of materials and application techniques are vital to understanding his artistic intent. This painting invites us to consider how artists synthesize diverse cultural influences and make meaning through process.