Russian-German1864–1941
Alexej von Jawlensky
A Russian painter who gave up a career in the Imperial Guard to study under Ilya Repin, then moved to Munich in 1896 and met Kandinsky, a lifelong influence. He is known for Expressionist portraits and, late in life, for series of simplified, abstract faces with a mystical intensity.
A life in paintings
- 1864Born
- 1909Worked with Wassily KandinskyMunich and Murnau
Jawlensky, Kandinsky, Gabriele Münter and Marianne Werefkin founded the Neue Künstlervereinigung München in early 1909 and painted together at Münter's house in Murnau. The group split in 1911 when Kandinsky's Composition V was rejected, and Kandinsky and Marc left to form Der Blaue Reiter.
Source: Tate - 1911The first Blaue Reiter exhibition
Kandinsky and Marc open their exhibition in Munich, arguing that colour can express the spiritual.
- 1914The First World War begins
War breaks out. Jawlensky, a Russian citizen, has to leave Germany for Switzerland.
- 1918
- 1941Died
Circles
Group · Munich · 1911
Der Blaue Reiter
Named after the almanac Kandinsky and Marc edited. First exhibition Dec 1911 at Thannhauser, Munich: 43 works by 14 artists, including Delaunay and Henri Rousseau. Ended with the war (Macke killed 1914, Marc 1916).
Society · Munich · 1909
Neue Künstlervereinigung München
Founded early 1909 by Jawlensky, Kandinsky, Münter, Werefkin and others; annual shows at Thannhauser 1909-1911. Marc joined in 1911; the Kandinsky-Marc split that December produced Der Blaue Reiter.
Where to see them
Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus
Munich
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