Blaue Badende 1912

Otto Mueller made this painting, Blaue Badende, with oil on canvas. The painting feels like a world of blues and tans. I love how Mueller just lets the colours sit next to each other. You can almost feel him figuring it out as he goes. What was he thinking? Maybe something like, "How can I make these figures feel solid, but still keep them light and airy?" The paint isn’t too thick, not too thin, so you can see the texture of the canvas underneath. It's like he wanted you to know it was a painting, you know? Like he’s saying, "Hey, this isn't real life, it's just me playing around with some colours and shapes." I wonder how Mueller was inspired by other painters and how he, in turn, inspired those who came after him. Painting is an ongoing conversation between artists. You never know where it's going to lead. It is a space of ambiguity, where multiple readings are possible, and where art keeps inviting new conversations.