Composition 1922

This is 'Composition', an undated painting by Janos Mattis-Teutsch. It's made with oil on cardboard, humble materials that speak to the artist's practical approach. Mattis-Teutsch wasn't interested in high-flown artistic gestures. Instead, he built up layers of color, one careful stroke at a time. Notice how the paint isn't blended smoothly, you can see each mark, a record of the artist’s process. The vivid reds, greens, and blues contrast with the deep black, creating a lively tension. Mattis-Teutsch was involved with avant-garde movements that sought to connect art with everyday life. His commitment to direct, hands-on methods reflects a desire to democratize art-making, rejecting the preciousness often associated with fine art. He invites us to appreciate not just the image, but also the labor and the materials that brought it into being. This approach blurs the lines between fine art and craft, inviting us to consider the value of both.