Spring 1912

Alexej von Jawlensky made 'Spring' with oil on board and lots of feeling. Look at those colors! The yellow and green that buzz behind the figure really sing. Then he comes in with the face, such a map of pinks, reds, and just a little touch of blue. I think about process a lot when I paint, it's so much about the way one mark leads to another, it's a conversation with the painting itself. You can see the way Jawlensky has built up the paint on the surface; it's thick and juicy in places, especially around the eyes. There's this raw physicality to the medium and a real emotional charge. See how he has put a red dot on each cheek, almost like a clown? The way he brings together those colors creates such an interesting tension. Jawlensky reminds me of other artists like Emil Nolde, who also used bold colors and simplified forms to convey intense emotion. Art is a form that embraces so many interpretations.