Algiers 1903

Frantisek Kupka made this small painting called Algiers using graphic strokes. The crowd feels restless and volatile. It feels very expressionistic to me; it really shows how the act of painting can be a site of inquiry. I wonder if Kupka felt disturbed or enraged by the scenes he depicts. When I look at the painting, I imagine the artist standing there, charcoal in hand, quickly sketching the scene, trying to capture the energy of the figures. See how the lines are thick and thin, and the colour palette is limited to just a few shades of brown and pink. I imagine Kupka scratching out the white parts and creating a sense of urgency. I think of other painters like Kathe Kollwitz who used expressionistic techniques to create politically charged work.