Rhythmic Composition 1951

Ernst Wilhelm Nay made this playful watercolor, Rhythmic Composition, in 1957. Nay has got a handle on the push-pull of color, the way warm and cool tones vibrate against each other. It's kind of like jazz, with these lively shapes improvising across the surface. I really get into the way Nay lets the paint do its thing. Look at how the colors bleed and mingle, creating these unpredictable textures. It's not about control; it's about letting the medium lead the way. The black shapes function as both independent forms and as anchors, giving the composition a foundation on which to soar. It reminds me a bit of Kandinsky, but with a softer, more organic touch. But Nay’s got his own voice, a unique way of turning abstract shapes into something vibrant and alive.