Savior's Face
circa 1919
Alexej von Jawlensky created this haunting, abstract visage during his exile in Switzerland around 1919, a period marked by the chaos of World War I. Part of his deeply spiritual 'Savior's Faces' series, the painting strips away realistic features to reveal a meditative, mask-like icon built from bold geometric lines and soft pastel hues. Jawlensky, a key figure in German Expressionism, was searching for the 'inner face' of Christ rather than a physical likeness. Sadly, severe arthritis would soon force his hands to stiffen, making these intense, colorful portraits a poignant bridge between his earlier expressive work and the tiny, abstract 'Meditations' he produced at the very end of his career.
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