Composition 1922

Janos Mattis-Teutsch made this small painting on an unknown date, probably with oil on canvas or board. Look at how the bright yellows, greens, and reds pop against that almost overwhelming, all-encompassing red ground. It's like a stage set, isn't it? I imagine Mattis-Teutsch working on this, perhaps starting with the red, then intuitively letting the other colours dance across the surface. There’s something joyful in the way the lines and shapes intersect, creating a kind of organized chaos. I’m really drawn to the almost haphazard way he’s laid the paint down. This piece reminds me of Hilma af Klint, particularly in its use of abstract forms to express unseen realities. But where Klint feels spiritual, Mattis-Teutsch feels more grounded, more about the pure pleasure of colour and form. Art is this ongoing conversation, right? We keep riffing off each other, finding new ways to see and feel.