Still-Life With Flowers And Oranges c. 1909

Alexej von Jawlensky made this juicy little still life with oil on board, and I just wanna dive right into that green tabletop. It feels like a stage, doesn't it? Like a scene is about to unfold. Those oranges are glowing, practically vibrating against the blue plate. And the flowers! Look at how he’s blobbed them in, thick and juicy, a little haphazard, like he's trying to catch them before they fade. I imagine him, standing there, cigarette dangling from his lip, squinting, dabbing at the canvas, stepping back, squinting again. He's building up these layers, pushing the colors around, until the whole thing just pops. You know? It's not about getting it "right," it's about getting it to sing. I get it, Alexej, I really do.