Grosse Meditationp; Zärtlichkeit im Herbst 1936

Alexej von Jawlensky made this oil painting called 'Grosse Meditation; Zärtlichkeit im Herbst', or 'Great Meditation; Tenderness in Autumn' using thick, deliberate brushstrokes of purple and brown. He's really working with process here. The surface is built up with these rhythmic, vertical lines. Look at the way Jawlensky drags the brush from top to bottom, varying the pressure. It gives the face this feeling of being built up from the ground, of being earthed. I wonder if he used a very wide brush, or maybe several smaller brushes at once? It's like a dance, that's become a face. The mouth is the most solid part of this composition. It holds it all together. Jawlensky's work reminds me of Marlene Dumas, who also uses pared-down features and layered textures to evoke an emotional state. Both artists embrace ambiguity, inviting us to bring our own experiences to the canvas. This piece is less about a specific likeness, and more about feeling.