Meditation; Black- Orange Glowing 1936

Alexej von Jawlensky painted "Meditation; Black- Orange Glowing" with oil on canvas. The directness of its making is apparent. Look closely, and you can see how Jawlensky applied each stroke of paint, layering black over orange and vice versa. The colours have an earthy quality, the raw materials coming directly from the earth. The speed of the application and rawness of these materials is palpable, and there is a sense of urgency and intensity in the process. It’s interesting to consider the work involved in producing this painting. The canvas would have had to be prepared, stretched, and primed. The paint, although relatively simple in its components, would have required the extraction of pigments and oils, refining and mixing. Consider the division of labor involved in the production of each part. Thinking about the materials and processes of painting invites us to consider the wider context of artistic creation, challenging traditional notions of artistic genius and encouraging us to appreciate the often invisible labor that goes into even the simplest of artworks.