Ahlas began to develop a stylistic approach to the human form by the 1950s. His palette took on a combination of rich green, blues and yellows. In a time when most of his contemporaries were trying their hands at Abstract Expressionism Ahlas refused to abandon the human form. His work is often associated with simple compositions of women lying down, gazing out a window or sitting alone in a room. Rarely does Ahlas allow his figures to look directly at the viewer. His work reflects a subdued introspection one might associate with the Impressionists of the late 19th century.