Weiblicher Kopf 1920 - 1923

This is Alexej von Jawlensky’s “Weiblicher Kopf,” and it's made with watercolor. It’s a face that feels both present and distant, like a memory. Jawlensky's use of thin washes allows the paper to breathe, giving the image an ethereal quality. There is a beautiful tension between the delicate washes of color and the bold, dark outlines. The face is bisected into different color fields that seem to be fighting for dominance. Look at the mark making, the way the eyes are rendered as simple shapes, yet they convey so much emotion. The physicality of the medium is evident in the subtle textures and variations in tone, creating a sense of depth and luminosity. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving across the paper. It reminds me of Paul Klee's playful approach to form and color. Both artists understood that art is not just about representation but about creating a new way of seeing and experiencing the world. It’s a conversation, a dance between the artist, the medium, and the viewer, leaving space for ambiguity and interpretation.