Still Life 1912

Alexej von Jawlensky's "Still Life" is a juicy, bold statement rendered in oil paint, a testament to the pure joy of putting color to canvas. The brushwork is so direct, like little pats of color that build up the forms, and the red background vibrates with energy. Look at the way the blue of the mug pops against that red – it's almost electric. The paint is thick, you can practically feel the artist's hand moving across the surface, each dab a deliberate choice. I am drawn to how the handle of the jug is rendered with one confident stroke of yellow-cream, this single detail captures the form with such clarity. You can see echoes of Matisse and the Fauves here, that same love for intense color and simplified forms. But Jawlensky brings his own spiritual depth to it, a sense of inner vision that makes the painting feel both immediate and timeless. It's a reminder that art is a conversation, a constant exchange of ideas and feelings across generations.