Japanese 1913

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this painting, Japanese, with oil on canvas, we don’t know exactly when. Kirchner's got this great bold palette going on, it’s so immediate, you know? Like he just went for it, trusting his gut. The way he builds up the paint is interesting. It’s not about hiding the process, but really showing each layer, each decision. Look at that blue robe, flecked with red. You can almost feel the energy he had when he made those marks. And the yellow background, kind of clashing with the red umbrella – it’s all so raw and honest. Kirchner always keeps you on your toes. Like, what is Japanese anyway, a title, or the whole point? There's something so alive in the way he put it all together, a real conversation between color and form. It reminds me a bit of Matisse, that same love for color, but with a bit more of an edge.