Self in Mirror in Landscape 1981

Klaus Fussmann made this painting, Self in Mirror in Landscape, using watercolor. He’s exploring the fluidity of the medium, letting the pigments bleed and mingle, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. The painting has this wonderful translucent quality. You can see how Fussmann’s built up the image in layers, especially in the trees and the mirrored figure, using thin washes of color. There's a sense of immediacy in his touch, a kind of raw honesty. Look at the mirrored figure - the strokes are so direct and economical. Fussmann seems to be embracing the imperfections and embracing the fluidity of the medium as a way to find form. It reminds me a little of Fairfield Porter’s watercolors, that same interest in light and atmosphere. Ultimately, Fussmann invites us to see the world as a fluid, ever-changing space, full of possibilities.