Landscape, Lake Geneva 1915

Alexej von Jawlensky made this painting of Lake Geneva with what looks like quick strokes of oil paint. You can almost feel the hand moving across the canvas. Painting, for me, is all about that: the gesture, the feeling of the brush, the mess! Look closely, and you'll notice how the colors aren't blended perfectly. The pink under the dark blue mountain range and the gold under the trees in the foreground each add a certain rawness. It’s like he’s letting us in on the secret, showing us how the image comes together. The paint isn't trying to hide itself, but proudly stands out. Jawlensky reminds me of other artists like Emil Nolde, who weren't afraid to use color and expressive brushwork to convey feeling. These guys weren't just painting what they saw; they were painting what they felt. It's all about how you see and experience the world.