Stiller Tag am Meer III 1929

Lyonel Feininger created this painting, "Stiller Tag am Meer III," or "Quiet Day at Sea III," with oil on canvas. See how he builds up these geometric shapes, like he’s constructing not just a scene but a whole world. The colours here are key – that moody blue against the warm yellows, really setting a tone. I love the texture, it’s not smooth, you can see the brushstrokes, like Feininger was wrestling with the paint, trying to pin down a feeling. Look at the way the red sails cut through the composition, it’s so bold. It’s almost like he’s saying, “Here I am, making my mark.” There’s a touch of Paul Klee in the way he simplifies the forms, but Feininger brings his own kind of melancholy. Ultimately, it’s like he’s reminding us that art is never really quiet, it’s always buzzing with possibility.