Blaues Pferd 1915

Alexej von Jawlensky made this blue horse in watercolor, and you can see right away he wasn't afraid to let the colors run and blend, embracing the unpredictable nature of the medium. It’s like he’s chasing after something, trying to pin down a feeling more than a literal image. Up close, the texture is all about the paper, which shines through the watery paint. The blue of the horse isn't just one note; it's a whole symphony, shifting from deep indigo to almost turquoise where it meets the light. The brushstrokes are loose, suggesting form without strictly defining it, look at the legs - they're sturdy but dissolve into the earth tones around them. This horse feels both present and like it’s fading into a dream. Jawlensky reminds me a bit of Emil Nolde, who also used color so expressively, almost violently, to convey emotion. And like with Nolde, it’s the ambiguity here that gets me, the way the painting invites you to bring your own story to it.