Figurengruppe unter lila-grünen Formen 1920

Adolf Hölzel made this drawing of figures under purple and green shapes with crayon, and it’s so fun to look at! The way he builds up the image from marks reminds me of the way that abstract painters like Kandinsky were figuring out how to make a painting without relying on realistic representation. There’s a real focus on materiality here, isn’t there? The slightly waxy feel of the crayon comes through in the hatched marks that build up the image, and the paper surface seems to be shining through, lending a feeling of translucence to the color. Look at the way that the warm red and yellow tones contrast with the cooler greens and blues. For me, it almost creates a sense of tension and release. It makes me think a bit about how much art is just a conversation. Hölzel’s piece speaks to movements like Fauvism and Expressionism, where color and emotion take center stage. But really, it’s all about exploring the endless possibilities of what art can be.