Marianne von Werefkin

Marianne von Werefkin was not only a talented artist but also a shrewd free thinker and hostess: at the beginning of the twentieth century famous artists including Wassily Kandinsky, Gabriele Münter, Alfred Kubin, Adolf Erbslöh, Erma Bossi, Franz Marc and August Macke assembled in Marianne von Werefkin’s salon in the Schwabing district of Munich. After a long break from painting in order to further her companion Alexej Jawlensky, Werefkin returned to her own art in 1906 and created fascinating works in a new, expressive style. Descended from a family of Russian aristocrats, the artist was an important forerunner and co-founder of the “Neue Künstlervereinigung München” (Munich New Artist’s Association), from which the “Blauer Reiter” developed. In addition to the artist’s early works from Russia and the Expressionist pictures which resulted from her sojourns in the region around Murnau, the Werefkin specialist Brigitte Salmen presents an appreciation of the artist’s later work, which is less well known and which was created in Ascona, where she lived in exile in Switzerland.

Marianne von Werefkin was not only a talented artist but also a shrewd free thinker and hostess: at the beginning of the twentieth century famous artists including Wassily Kandinsky, Gabriele Münter, Alfred Kubin, Adolf Erbslöh, Erma Bossi, Franz Marc and August Macke assembled in Marianne von Werefkin’s salon in the Schwabing district of Munich. After a long break from painting in order to further her companion Alexej Jawlensky, Werefkin returned to her own art in 1906 and created fascinating works in a new, expressive style. Descended from a family of Russian aristocrats, the artist was an important forerunner and co-founder of the “Neue Künstlervereinigung München” (Munich New Artist’s Association), from which the “Blauer Reiter” developed. In addition to the artist’s early works from Russia and the Expressionist pictures which resulted from her sojourns in the region around Murnau, the Werefkin specialist Brigitte Salmen presents an appreciation of the artist’s later work, which is less well known and which was created in Ascona, where she lived in exile in Switzerland.

Marianne von Werefkin played a key role in the development of expressionism in the early 20th century, thanks to her knowledge of the latest developments in Paris. She brought this to Germany and later Switzerland and developed a unique way of painting herself, using rhythm and colour to convey her vision and emotions. Social themes, such as the lives of workers and women, remained of great importance to her. Werefkin was at the cradle of several artists' networks, such as Der Blaue Reiter, which included her partner Alexej von Jawlensky as well as Wassily Kandinsky, Franz Marc and Gabriele Münter. Museum De Fundatie is the only museum in the Netherlands to have a work by Werefkin in its collection and, with this book, offers an overview of her colourful universe for the first time in the Netherlands. Several essays give a multifaceted impression of the life, work and significance of one of the greatest art innovators of the last century.

Marianne von Werefkin played a key role in the development of expressionism in the early 20th century, thanks to her knowledge of the latest developments in Paris. She brought this to Germany and later Switzerland and developed a unique way of painting herself, using rhythm and colour to convey her vision and emotions. Social themes, such as the lives of workers and women, remained of great importance to her. Werefkin was at the cradle of several artists' networks, such as Der Blaue Reiter, which included her partner Alexej von Jawlensky as well as Wassily Kandinsky, Franz Marc and Gabriele Münter. Museum De Fundatie is the only museum in the Netherlands to have a work by Werefkin in its collection and, with this book, offers an overview of her colourful universe for the first time in the Netherlands. Several essays give a multifaceted impression of the life, work and significance of one of the greatest art innovators of the last century.