Head in blue 1912

Alexej von Jawlensky created 'Head in Blue' with oil paint, building a portrait out of strokes of blues, reds, and yellows. You can really see the hand of the artist in this painting, can’t you? It’s like he’s building the face out of color, one brushstroke at a time. I can imagine Jawlensky stepping back, squinting, then leaning in again, trying to capture something essential, something beyond just appearance. The eyes are dark pools, pulling you in, while the colors around them vibrate with energy. It’s interesting how he uses color to define form; it reminds me of other expressionist painters who were trying to push beyond representation. He's almost wrestling with the paint, coaxing it into shape. Like he’s saying, ‘I’m not just copying what I see, I’m feeling it, and I’m putting that feeling into the paint.’ There’s a conversation happening between artists across time, each one borrowing, riffing, and responding. It's a reminder that painting is a dialogue, an ongoing exploration that embraces uncertainty and multiple meanings.