Glasfensterentwurf 1932

This is a design for a stained-glass window by Adolf Hölzel, made using what looks like wax crayon. I’m struck by the way the colors are both vibrant and somehow muted, all at the same time. The texture of the paper showing through the crayon makes the colors feel really immediate and raw. You can almost feel Hölzel making the marks. Look how each color is outlined in black. See how that pulls all the shapes together? The black outline reminds me of the lead in stained glass. Hölzel’s piece is not just about representation, it’s about this kind of visual language, and how shapes and colors talk to each other, it reminds me of early Kandinsky. It’s like he’s using the crayon to explore the possibilities of color and form, and how they can create a sense of depth and movement on a flat surface. Ultimately, it's a reminder that art is always a conversation, a back-and-forth between the artist, the materials, and the world around them.