St. Mary's Church with the Arrow 1926

Lyonel Feininger made this painting of St. Mary’s Church, with, I imagine, a brush loaded with thinned-down pigment, almost like watercolor, but definitely oil. The church kind of emerges from a mist of muted greens and blues. I see the act of painting itself, how it's come into being, shifting through trial, error, and intuition. It’s almost like he was trying to find the form, searching for it. I imagine him stepping back, squinting, then adding another stroke, building up this transparent architecture. I am so curious about the arrow! You know, painting isn't just about representation; it's a way of thinking. It’s like Feininger is in conversation with other painters, like the cubists, or maybe even futurists, all pushing the boundaries of form and perception. It’s about embracing the ambiguity, allowing multiple interpretations. It is, in the end, a very personal vision.