Nächtlich 1948

Leo Leuppi made this watercolour, titled ‘Nächtlich’, translating to ‘Nocturnal’, sometime in the mid twentieth century. Look closely at the way these shapes and lines are laid down, the process feels like a dance. The colour palette is muted, and limited, as if the colours are holding back or hiding. See how the yellow circle hovers at the top of the composition, but it is not a perfect circle. There are gaps in the colour where the ground of the paper shows through. These white marks give the impression of buildings, making this piece, perhaps, a nocturnal cityscape. The watery quality of the paint gives a sense of atmosphere, as if looking through a mist. There are so many artists who might have looked at this piece in later years, from Agnes Martin to Etel Adnan, it’s as if Leuppi was having a conversation with the future. It reminds us that art is an ongoing experiment, and there is room for everyone to join in.