Oil painting -> List of Painters -> Alexej von Jawlensky

EARLY DAYS:

Alexej von Jawlensky was an influential Russian artist and a founding member of the Expressionist movement. He is best known for his colorful, abstract works that mix elements of Cubism, Fauvism, and Symbolism. Jawlensky was born in 1864 in Torschok, Russia and grew up in the city of Tula. He was educated at the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg, where he studied traditional academic painting. After his studies, he moved to Munich, Germany, in 1896, where he became part of the vibrant art scene.

Jawlensky's early works were traditional landscapes and portraits, but he soon began to explore more modern styles. He was inspired by the vibrant colors of the Fauvists and the expressive, abstract forms of the Cubists. He was also influenced by the mystical symbolism of Kandinsky and the Russian folk tradition. He experimented with these various techniques to create a unique and original style of his own.

Jawlensky was particularly intrigued by the expressive use of color and light. He often employed a flat, simplified background with a single centered figure. His figures are distorted and abstracted, but still retain a sense of humanity and emotion. His color palette is often bright and vivid, with strong contrasts between light and dark. He was also known for his use of the color blue, which he used to convey a sense of mystery and spirituality.

In the early 1900s, Jawlensky began to form his own artistic group, Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider). He and his fellow members, including Kandinsky and Franz Marc, sought to create a new type of painting that was expressive and full of emotion. The group was short-lived, but it had a lasting influence on the Expressionist movement.

Jawlensky was also a teacher and mentor to many aspiring young artists. He taught classes at the Phalanx School in Munich and was instrumental in the formation of the New Munich Artists Association. He was a leader in the Expressionist movement, and his influence can still be seen in the works of modern artists today.

Throughout his career, Jawlensky continued to explore new techniques and styles. He produced a variety of works, from traditional portraits to abstract compositions. He often painted with a rhythmic, meditative quality, and his works often evoke a sense of spirituality and inner peace.

In the 1920s, Jawlensky moved to Switzerland, where he continued to paint until his death in 1941. He left behind a legacy of vivid, expressive works that are still admired today. He was also a passionate teacher and mentor, and his influence can still be seen in the works of modern Expressionist painters.

 

CAREER:

Jawlensky moved to Munich, Germany in 1896, where he befriended Wassily Kandinsky and Franz Marc. He embraced the ideas of the Blaue Reiter (Blue Rider) group, a loose association of German Expressionist painters who sought to express emotions and spiritual states in their works. His style of painting became increasingly abstract, and he began to explore color theory, often combining vibrant colors and bold lines in his paintings.

Jawlensky's most famous works are his brightly colored, abstract portraits of women and children. He often used simplified forms and simplified colors to create a sense of spirituality and mystery in his paintings. He was also an accomplished landscape painter, creating vivid and detailed scenes of the Bavarian countryside.

In 1914, Jawlensky and his family moved to Switzerland due to World War I. His works were well-received in the Swiss art scene, and he was awarded a major commission to paint a series of murals at the Swiss Parliament Building in Bern. Jawlensky's works were also featured in several exhibitions throughout Europe and the United States during this time.

Jawlensky's health began to decline in the 1920s and he was eventually diagnosed with cancer. His work during this period became even more abstract, and he began to explore cubism and other modernist styles. He died in Wiesbaden, Germany in 1941.

Jawlensky's works have been exhibited in major museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Kunstmuseum in Basel. He is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of Expressionism and his works continue to influence modern art.