Bauer 1912

Alexej von Jawlensky made this portrait, called Bauer, with oil paint. Jawlensky was part of the expressionist movement, and this is very evident in the quick, expressive brushstrokes and the bold color palette. The paint is applied in thick layers, a technique known as impasto, which gives the surface a tactile quality. It's clear that Jawlensky was less interested in capturing a realistic likeness and more interested in expressing an emotional response to his subject. The process itself becomes part of the meaning. We see how Jawlensky challenges traditional notions of portraiture by moving away from academic precision towards emotional expression, anticipating later abstract approaches. Ultimately, it asks us to consider how materials and methods contribute to the emotional and conceptual depth of art.