Abstract Head,Gold and Pink 1931

Alexej von Jawlensky made this "Abstract Head, Gold and Pink" using oil paint, and what strikes me is the way he's built up the image through layers of color. It’s like he’s feeling his way through the painting, each stroke a little experiment. The surface has a soft, almost hazy quality. You can see how the colors blend and bleed into each other, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. Look at the strong pink circle of the cheek against the softer tones of the face, how it seems to push forward, yet also remains part of the overall surface. It's a reminder that paintings aren’t just images, they're objects with their own physical presence. Jawlensky's work reminds me of Agnes Martin, in that it embraces quiet contemplation and invites us to slow down and really see what's in front of us. Neither artist tries to tell us what to think or feel. They simply present the painting as an open invitation for us to bring our own experiences and interpretations to the table.