Meditation ‘The Prayer’ 1922

Alexej von Jawlensky created 'Meditation ‘The Prayer’' with oil paint on canvas, a conventional material and process for the era. However, the painting's power resides less in technical virtuosity, and more in its radical reduction of form. Jawlensky applied the oil paint in thin, translucent layers, allowing the texture of the canvas to subtly show through. Look closely at the gradations of color across the face and background, creating depth and luminosity. This focus on the inherent qualities of the paint—its viscosity, its capacity for blending, and its reflective properties—imbues the artwork with a meditative quality. The repetitive, almost ritualistic process of layering paint, and the simplified forms, suggest a deep engagement with spiritual themes. It moves painting away from mere representation, towards a more profound expression of inner states. In doing so, Jawlensky challenges the traditional hierarchy of art, placing emphasis on the act of creation and the evocative potential of materials.