Marianne von Werefkin: Stunning Expressionism

Marianne von Werefkin - Sturmwind (Storm Wind) c. 1915-17- Oil on canvas - 47 x 62 cmRussian-German-Swiss Expressionist Marianne von Werefkin (1860-1938) met fellow artist Alexei Jawlensky in 1892—and moved with him to Munich in 1896. She put her own painting on hold for over ten years for the sake of his art—but began painting again in 1906. 

While in Munich, the couple met Wassily Kandinsky and Gabriele Münter. The four artists frequently painted together, in the open air, in and around Murnau—a rural town outside of Munich where Münter owned a house. They founded a new artist-group in 1909, the Neue Künstlervereinigung München (New Association of Artists in Munich, NKVM). It became a forum of exhibitions and programming. After a few years, however, Kandinsky and co-member Franz Marc distanced themselves from this group and formed Der Blau Reiter ( the Blue Rider), which covers the second phase of German Expressionism.

At the outbreak of WWI, Werefkin and Jawlensky moved to Switzerland, eventually settling in Geneva. By 1918, the couple had separated and Werefkin moved alone to Ascona, located on the shore of Lake Maggiore, in Switzerland, where she remained for the rest of her life. She continued to paint in the Expressionist style. She also formed another artists’ group, Großer Bär (Big Bear) in 1924.

Werefkin’s work embodies influences from both Paul Gauguin and Edvard Munch, yet her results are uniquely her own. She is one of many female artists to whom a great deal more scholarly attention should be paid.