Blaue Vase mit Orangen 1908

This painting of a blue vase with oranges was made by Alexej von Jawlensky, and it’s a feast of color. Look at the way he fearlessly puts pink, green, orange and blue together, almost daring them to clash but somehow making it work. It’s like a high-stakes game of chromatic harmony. The paint application is thick and juicy, giving a tangible presence to each object. The blue of the vase is particularly striking. Jawlensky doesn’t blend it smoothly; instead, he allows the brushstrokes to remain visible, giving the vase a sculptural quality. It's as if he is building the form out of pure color. It reminds me of Matisse and his daring color combinations and the way he flattens the picture plane, pushing everything to the surface. But Jawlensky has his own unique voice; it's full of bold statements about the joy of seeing and the pleasure of painting. Ultimately, this piece shows us that painting is a playground of endless possibilities.