Man Tree 1916

Xul Solar made 'Man Tree' with watercolor and ink on paper. It’s a funny thing to see, a face in a flame, cradled by the branches of a tree! I imagine Solar, hunched over this little painting, carefully layering those washes of color. See how the tree’s branches reach up like arms, almost protective? I get the feeling that painting this was like tending to a small, precious fire for Solar. The colors are so vibrant, like the tree is burning from within with blues, reds and yellows. Those dripping lines, are they tears, sap, or something else entirely? Maybe Solar was thinking about the connection between people and nature, how we're all intertwined, growing and changing together. It reminds me a little of Hilma af Klint’s visionary paintings, the way she used symbols and forms to explore spiritual ideas. It’s like all artists are in an ongoing conversation, across time, inspiring each other, isn't it? You might like to think of this artwork as a space where imagination takes root and grows wild.