Liegendes Mädchen 1917

Editor: Here we have Alexej von Jawlensky's "Liegendes Mädchen" from 1917, a pastel work. I’m struck by its intimate scale and the visible strokes – you can almost feel the artist's hand at work. What is your perspective on this pastel drawing? Curator: The medium is indeed key. The roughness of pastel lends itself to the immediacy of Expressionism. It collapses the distance between the artist's hand and the image, wouldn't you agree? This challenges the historical hierarchy privileging oil painting as a more refined medium. How do you see the artist's choice contributing to the overall impact? Editor: I see your point. The immediacy certainly conveys a certain...vulnerability. Is there a cultural aspect linked to these choices, a material history behind it? Curator: Absolutely. Consider the context: 1917. World War I was raging. Materials were scarce. Pastel was far more economical and easier to transport than oils. This speaks to a pragmatic, resourceful artistic practice, influenced by larger social realities. Moreover, the looser, less 'finished' look reflects a broader challenge to academic traditions and values of the time. Editor: That makes so much sense! The constraints influence the output. Curator: Exactly! What else jumps out to you? The figure's pose? The colors? Editor: The figure is rather casual, and the colours are quite saturated. They appear to disrupt conventional representations of the female nude, making it seem less idealized and perhaps even less objectified. Curator: Precisely! Consider the role of women in wartime labor. The image challenges conventional, idealized representations of women, pointing towards a shifting socio-economic and even manufacturing landscape. We move away from consumption into production. Editor: Fascinating! So by analyzing the medium and the socio-political context, we gain deeper insight into the artist’s expression and message? Curator: Precisely. This approach moves us away from merely aesthetic appreciation to an understanding of the work’s material life and its relationship to a broader cultural landscape. Editor: This has really opened my eyes to the relationship between artistic creation and production! Curator: Mine too! The material conditions shaping creativity offer a different reading of its possible meanings.