498 The Beard Is the Grass of the Bald-Headed Man 1961

Friedensreich Hundertwasser made this painting with, what looks like, oil and mixed media. The title, *The Beard Is the Grass of the Bald-Headed Man*, already throws you into Hundertwasser’s world of playful paradoxes. Check out the lines making up the bald head. See how they mimic the growth rings of a tree trunk. They’re not just lines; they're pathways, each one telling a story. The way he’s built up the surface, it’s almost topographical, like a map of someone’s mind. Notice the mix of earthy browns, greens, and yellows, giving it a kind of organic, living feel. Then there’s that green "beard" which merges the figure with the landscape. It’s all about blurring boundaries. Hundertwasser reminds me a bit of Gustav Klimt. Both had this thing for ornamentation and filling every inch of the canvas. But Hundertwasser is a bit more raw, maybe closer to Paul Klee. He’s not afraid to let the messiness show. The beauty is in the journey, not some perfect destination.