Composition 1923

Janos Mattis-Teutsch made this 'Composition' with paint, pushing pigment around to see what might happen. There's a real sense of discovery in the way he’s fearlessly combined colours – that bright yellow against the cool blue! Looking closely, you can see how the brushstrokes build up the surface, creating a textured landscape of colour. See the thick, opaque strokes of yellow? Then notice how the blue is scraped on more thinly. It's like he's inviting us to witness the very act of painting. The black lines are great, aren’t they? How they slice through the composition adding a jolt of discord, like a badly tuned guitar string. This piece reminds me of Hilma af Klint's early abstract works, both artists exploring hidden realities through a language of colour and form. Art’s an ongoing conversation, and it’s great to listen in.