Indian and Woman 1910

Max Pechstein made this painting, Indian and Woman, in 1910, and it's like a color explosion on canvas. He's not trying to trick you into thinking you're seeing reality, but it's like he's inventing a new one right before your eyes. Look at the juicy brushstrokes, thick and confident, especially in the way he's built up the red of the Indian’s tunic, contrasting with the cool green of the reclining nude. There's a real push-and-pull between these figures, and it's all held together with this bold, almost raw application of paint. The colors aren’t blended, they’re butting up against each other, creating this vibrant, almost electric feel. It's like Pechstein is saying, "Here’s how I see and feel this, and it's not about perfection. It's about energy." It reminds me of Gauguin, that same sense of exoticism and flattened space, but Pechstein cranks up the volume and makes it his own. It's messy, it's bold, and it's totally captivating.