Weib c. 1929

Karl Wiener made this portrait, ‘Weib,’ with what looks like colored pencils, giving it a very particular and intimate feel. I'm really drawn to the way Wiener builds up the colors in layers, look at the woman's face, how yellow becomes peach with touches of purple near the eyes, a kind of pointillist effect. It’s like he’s mapping out her face, following its contours with tiny strokes, not trying to capture likeness exactly, but really feeling the landscape of her features. The lips are a sharp slash of red, and the orange background really zings against the cool greens and blues of her clothing. I love how this piece is both a portrait and an abstraction, how it lives in the space between representation and pure color. It reminds me a little of Alexej von Jawlensky's portraits, but with a softer, more personal touch. Ultimately, I think that art is a conversation, and Wiener’s 'Weib' has plenty to say.