Composition 1925

This painting, 'Composition', by Janos Mattis-Teutsch, is a riot of geometric forms and colours, all rendered with a kind of earnest simplicity. It’s the kind of piece that makes you think about how shapes and colours can be characters in their own right. Looking closely, you’ll notice that the paint application is pretty straightforward. There aren't any hidden tricks or complex layering, and it feels direct, honest. The edges are where it’s at; each shape is clearly delineated, bumping up against its neighbour. I find this gives the forms a kind of weight or presence. The red shape, near the centre, feels like a playful disruption of the cooler blues and greens that surround it. It’s not hard to imagine Mattis-Teutsch standing in front of his canvas, carefully considering each move, each colour choice. This work reminds me a little of early Kandinsky, a similar interest in abstraction as a spiritual language. Ultimately, 'Composition' invites us to embrace the joyful messiness of interpretation and open ourselves up to the many possibilities of seeing.