Landscape 1918

Janos Mattis-Teutsch created this landscape using pastels, a medium that offers an immediate and tactile experience. Unlike oil paints that require brushes and solvents, pastels are pure pigment held together by a binder. The direct application of color to the paper creates a vibrant, almost raw aesthetic. Notice how the strokes of the pastels build up, layering hues to form the undulating hills and luminous sky. The texture isn't blended to perfection, but there’s energy in the roughness. Pastels are relatively inexpensive and easy to use, compared to the grand tradition of oil painting. This accessibility democratizes the artistic process, blurring the lines between amateur and professional, and enabling a broader range of voices to participate in the creation of art. This landscape isn't just a depiction of nature; it's a testament to the power of accessible materials in shaping artistic expression.