Artwork
Murnau
Murnau is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Alexej von Jawlensky. It dates from 1910 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right: A. Jawlensky
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting titled Murnau depicts a landscape view of the Bavarian town of Murnau, reflecting Jawlensky's engagement with the locale during his early expressionist period. As a landscape work, it conveys the artist's perception of the surrounding countryside, though the sources do not specify particular iconographic or symbolic details beyond the general representation of the town's scenery.
History & Provenance
Murnau, created in 1910 by Alexej von Jawlensky, is an oil on hardboard landscape.
Murnau, created in 1910 by Alexej von Jawlensky, is an oil on hardboard landscape. It was shown at the Curt Valentin Gallery, New York, by 1954 and again in the gallery's 1955 exhibition of its remaining stock, after which it was acquired by Ralph F. Colin and his wife. The Colins gave the work to the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., in 1973. A label on the reverse records inventory number 15409.
Overview
Alexej von Jawlensky's 1910 painting, Murnau, is an oil on hardboard landscape. It depicts a mountain and village scene rendered with an expressive palette and energetic brushwork. The work exemplifies the artist's engagement with vibrant color and dynamic composition during this period, transforming a natural setting into a subjective visual experience.
Technique & Style
Jawlensky employed bold brushstrokes and a vivid color scheme in Murnau, contributing to a palpable sense of energy throughout the composition. The artist's distinctive application of color not only defines forms but also generates a perception of depth and dimensionality, inviting the viewer's engagement. This approach emphasizes the expressive potential of paint, moving beyond mere description to convey an emotional resonance.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alexej Georgewitsch von Jawlensky (Russian: Алексе́й Гео́ргиевич Явле́нский, romanized: Alekséy Geórgiyevich Yavlénskiy; 13 March 1864 – 15 March 1941), surname also spelt as Yavlensky, was a Russian expressionist painter active in Germany.
