Composition 1929

Pavel Filonov made this painting, entitled Composition, at some point in his career with oil on canvas. It is a trip! I love the way Filonov fearlessly layers color and form. You can sense his intuitive process at work, as he builds up this intricate world, bit by bit. The paint is applied in small, deliberate strokes, like a mosaic of feeling. The physicality of the medium is right there on the surface. Check out the lower right corner; those small red dots clustered together. To me, they feel like little sparks of energy, a microcosm of the whole painting. Filonov reminds me of Paul Klee, another artist who wasn't afraid to dive into the depths of imagination and create something truly unique. This piece embraces the idea that art doesn't have to be literal or have one single meaning. It can be a space for exploration, for questioning, and for endless discovery.