Composition 1922

Janos Mattis-Teutsch made this abstract composition using oil on canvas. It features vibrant colors and biomorphic forms, characteristic of his expressionist style. Painted in the early to mid-20th century, this work reflects the broader European avant-garde movement. Mattis-Teutsch was Romanian-Hungarian, and his art embodies the cultural ferment of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and its aftermath. During this period, artists sought new languages to express the inner self and critique societal norms. The vivid colors and distorted forms challenge academic artistic conventions. To understand this piece better, one might delve into the artist's biography and the social history of expressionism. Researching the institutional backdrop of the period—the galleries, salons, and art schools—would further illuminate the context in which Mattis-Teutsch created this daring composition. Studying art is always a journey into the social conditions that enable its production.