Mystical head, Meditation 1918

Curator: So much serene energy radiating from this canvas! We are looking at Alexej von Jawlensky's "Mystical Head, Meditation," an oil painting completed in 1918. What's your initial take? Editor: Calm, definitely calm. And curiously… architectural? The planes of the face feel deliberately constructed, like a spiritual edifice. A quiet space rendered in muted purples, greens, and rosy hues. Curator: Jawlensky sought to depict inner spiritual states through these "Mystical Heads." The simplified forms and symbolic colors were his language for expressing something beyond the purely representational. Look at that deliberate, bold outline, containing the face. Editor: That encompassing line strikes me as both protective and isolating, like a womb or maybe even a closed casket. The color choices seem less about realism and more about eliciting emotional and symbolic resonance, playing upon the contrast between the vibrant colors of the lips versus the pallid complexion. Do you see something similar? Curator: Yes! Consider how purple has historically been connected to royalty and spirituality, with pink denoting gentle introspection. Green—hope, life—juxtaposed with what seems like a deathly complexion…he masterfully captured those dualities of our experience. Jawlensky described these paintings as "prayers in paint," you know. Editor: Ah, prayers—that adds a rich layer. Notice how the closed eyes draw us inward. There's a universality to that gesture. In that moment of reflection, this could be anyone, and therefore, it’s also… everyone. Do you think the abstraction helps emphasize that? Curator: Absolutely! The abstraction facilitates universal access! Stripping away specific details allows viewers to project their own feelings and experiences onto the image, tapping into that collective consciousness. We begin meditating just by looking. It’s less about the individual and more about the essence of inner peace. Editor: I'm left contemplating the thin line between internal reflection and withdrawal from the world. It’s so fragile; how the same pose or expression can signify profound thought or an unfortunate shutting down. Jawlensky gives me hope for the former! Curator: He indeed navigates that precipice of self so beautifully and honestly; giving us permission to seek meaning within! A valuable offering.