Abstract Head,Pink-Light Blue 1929

Alexej von Jawlensky made this Abstract Head, Pink-Light Blue with paint, and likely not much else. Look how soft the edges are! It’s not quite airbrushed, but there is a real subtlety in the transitions between color. This gives it a dreamy, ethereal quality. And that palette! It's got that rosy melancholy feeling. The mouth is just a dash, a sideways ‘i’ for invisible. The paint is brushed on thinly, with the weave of the canvas just barely showing through. The surface has a slight texture, a bit chalky, like it wants to be touched. It feels very immediate and intimate. I am reminded of Agnes Martin, another artist who explored the emotional resonance of color and form. Both artists share a dedication to exploring subtle variations in color and form to evoke a sense of tranquility and contemplation. Ultimately, this painting leaves us with more questions than answers, and that is what makes it so compelling.