Wooden Figure 1935 - 1942

Carl Strehlau made this 'Wooden Figure' out of watercolour on paper sometime in the 20th century, and it’s a quiet little symphony in blue and red, isn’t it? I can imagine Strehlau, squinting, trying to capture the weight and feel of the original sculpture. What was he thinking, staring at this figure? Maybe he was trying to figure out what it means to be solid, to be still, while also kind of falling apart. I wonder how he chose the colours, that muted red for the robe and that intense blue for the drape – were they trying to say something about passion and peace? Look at how the blue contrasts with the earthiness of the figure’s skin and garment; notice the way the colours are laid down in thin, almost transparent washes, letting the paper breathe underneath. It’s like he’s not just painting a figure, but also the idea of a figure, something solid but also elusive, there but also fading away. In this way, Strehlau reminds us of the fleeting nature of art and life.