Komposition 1959

Julius Bissier’s “Komposition” is a watercolor work made in 1959. Note the interplay of forms: an anchor-like shape of dark ink contrasts with the totem-like figure in reddish-brown. Consider the symbol of the totem. Across cultures, totems serve as emblems of familial or clan identity, embodying ancestral spirits. The stack of colored blocks hanging next to the brown figure could represent a family history, or even a person's spiritual journey. In indigenous societies, totems often narrate histories, structuring social memories. The use of such symbols evokes the collective unconscious, echoing primal patterns of human thought. The recurring presence of the totem across disparate cultures suggests a shared, deeply rooted need to connect with ancestors. This composition reminds us that art is a perpetual return, a continuous dialogue with our cultural past.