Meditation N. 33 1935

Alexej von Jawlensky made this painting called Meditation N. 33, and it looks like he used oil paint, probably on a small board. The first thing you notice is the darkness, a deep black ground that feels endless. Then, colors start popping out: orange, red, blue, a touch of white, like little signals in the night. Jawlensky isn’t trying to trick you into seeing something real, it’s more about feeling something real. It's almost like he's building the painting with feelings. Look at the vertical lines of blue and red, they are like bars, holding the darkness in, or maybe letting the light escape. Painters like Agnes Martin come to mind. But unlike her, Jawlensky isn't all cool and minimal. He lets the paint be thick and juicy, almost like he wants you to taste it. It's like he's saying, "Here, feel this." That's what I love about painting, it’s not about answers, it’s about the questions.