Composition 1920

Janos Mattis-Teutsch made this painting, Composition, using oil paint and a whole lot of joyful energy. What strikes me is the mark making, short stabs of colour that create this swirling vortex, like you could fall right into the centre of it. The surface has real texture and depth. The paint isn't scrubbed into the canvas, but sits on top, alive and vibrating. Look at the dark blue curve on the left, how the strokes are almost like teeth marks, giving the line a ragged, organic quality. It reminds me that painting is not just about rendering something, but about the physical act of applying paint, the struggle and the joy of it. It puts me in mind of Kandinsky's more abstract works, though Mattis-Teutsch has a colour palette all of his own. Ultimately, paintings are an open invitation, a chance to bring your own experiences and associations to the table, so what do you think?