The artwork titled “A Second Emancipation Proclamation!!” was created by Charles Alston in 1943. This work belongs to the Social Realism movement and is categorized as a poster. The subject depicted in the artwork alludes to a historical proclamation, drawing a parallel with the original Emancipation Proclamation.
In “A Second Emancipation Proclamation!!,” three significant figures are represented: one standing and two seated at a table. The standing figure, dressed in a double-breasted coat, has his hands placed firmly on the shoulders of the two seated figures. The seated figure on the left wears military attire and appears to gaze attentively at the other seated figure, who is depicted signing a document labeled “Atlantic Charter.” The style is rendered meticulously in monochromatic shades, emphasizing the solemnity and gravity of the scene. The phrase “August 14—Two years ago today, President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill signed the Atlantic Charter…news item” is inscribed at the top left, contextualizing the historical significance and aligning it with the broader themes of freedom and human rights.
