Star the Wormwood 1908

Konstantin Bogaevsky made this ink drawing called ‘Star the Wormwood,’ and honestly, it looks like he let loose! The marks are so gestural. It’s all black and white, with these frenetic, almost violent strokes swirling around the page. I can imagine Bogaevsky, with his brush loaded with ink, just going for it. What a brave, bold statement! The star in the center is like a cosmic event, a moment of creation or destruction. You know, it reminds me of some of the Abstract Expressionists, like Franz Kline. He was also using these big, bold strokes to convey emotion. But here, Bogaevsky combines that raw energy with something else, maybe a hint of landscape. It’s like he’s saying, "The world is chaotic and beautiful and full of possibilities." I imagine a painter like Bogaevsky must have looked to others who had similarly reached into the cosmos in order to express themselves. I think he succeeded wonderfully!