Bursche mit Hut 1921

Christian Rohlfs made this portrait, "Bursche mit Hut", using what looks like a mix of watercolor and chalk, and right away, I'm thinking about how materials can lead the way in artmaking. There’s something so raw and immediate in the way Rohlfs has laid down these marks. The colors feel earthy, like they're coming right from the ground, yet there are these surprising blues that jolt you awake. Look at how the colors aren’t neatly contained; they bleed and blend, creating a texture that's almost like skin. The hat, a splash of greenish-blue, feels almost like a dare. That smear of dark chalk that defines the jawline—it’s so direct, so unapologetic. I love how it captures the vulnerability of the boy, while the hat gives the impression of strength. Rohlfs reminds me a bit of Emil Nolde, especially in the way he uses color to convey emotion, but there’s a roughness here that feels uniquely his. It’s like he’s inviting us to see the world not as it is, but as he feels it.