Mystischer Kopf: Frauenkopf auf blauem Grund 1917

Alexej von Jawlensky made this captivating painting, “Mystical Head: Woman's Head on a Blue Background,” probably in the teens or twenties. Looking at this painting, I imagine Jawlensky layering those brushstrokes, one after the other, searching for the right balance. It's like he's building up this inner vision, bit by bit. He’s really playing with a limited palette here – blues, yellows, pinks, mauves. See how the colors don’t quite conform to reality? How the nose is just a straight line? It's not about capturing a likeness, it’s about capturing a feeling. I love how the whole thing vibrates with this weird energy. It's like he's trying to tap into something beyond the surface, something mystical, something deep within the sitter. You know, it reminds me of other painters, like Kandinsky, who were also searching for a way to express the inexpressible. It makes you wonder what they were talking about when they met for a beer. Painters, we're all in a conversation with each other, across time, inspiring each other to keep searching.