Education 1966

Johannes Itten made "Education" with oil paint, and he was clearly interested in the way colours react to each other. The painting is built up in layers, from the dark surround to the bright centre, like a set of Russian dolls made from colour. It's very material - you can see the brushstrokes, and the way the colours sit next to each other, vibrating. Look at that small white square, off-center, and how it creates a sense of depth as the surrounding colours appear to recede. Itten taught at the Bauhaus, and his interest in colour theory was a big influence on other artists. He was interested in the spiritual aspects of art, a bit like Kandinsky, but with a more grounded, practical approach. He explored the idea that colours could express emotions, and this piece feels like a diagram of that idea, but also a kind of devotional object, to me. Ultimately, Itten reminds us that art is a process of discovery, where colours and forms come together to create something new and unexpected.