Alexej von Jawlensky – Biography, works and legacy
Early life and artistic beginnings
Alexej von Jawlensky (1864-1941) was born on 13 March 1864 in Torschok, Russia, the son of an officer. He showed an interest in art at an early age, but initially followed the family tradition and began a military career. During his time in the army, his enthusiasm for painting grew, which eventually became his true vocation.
Training and influence of Expressionism
In 1889, Jawlensky began studying art at the renowned Academy of Fine Arts in St Petersburg, where he learnt under Ilya Repin, an important representative of Russian painting. In 1896, he moved to Munich, accompanied by the painter Marianne von Werefkin, with whom he had an intense and often conflictual relationship.
In Munich, he studied at Anton Ažbé’s painting school and met important artists such as Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee. These friendships shaped his path towards Expressionism. Jawlensky’s early works showed influences from Russian art and Art Nouveau, but his later work was dominated by Fauvism and Expressionism.
In Murnau, he worked with Kandinsky, Gabriele Münter and Marianne von Werefkin. In 1911, he co-founded the artists’ group “Der Blaue Reiter”, which had a decisive influence on Expressionism.
Private life and challenges
Intensive relationships characterised Jawlensky’s personal life. His partner Marianne von Werefkin dedicated her career to promoting his art. At the same time, he maintained a relationship with Helene Nesnakomoff, with whom he had a son, Andreas, in 1902. He married Helene in 1922.
With the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Jawlensky was forced to leave Germany and moved to Switzerland. There he created his ‘Variations on a Landscape Theme’, which marked a transition to a more spiritual and abstract pictorial language.
Return to Germany and later years
After the war, Jawlensky returned to Germany and settled in Wiesbaden. In the 1920s, he developed his famous series ‘Mystical Heads’ and ‘Faces of the Saviour’, reducing the human figure to its essential forms.
In the 1930s, Jawlensky’s health deteriorated due to arthritis, increasingly preventing him from painting. National Socialist cultural policy declared his works to be ‘degenerate’, which resulted in him being banned from painting and exhibiting.
Works and legacy of Jawlensky
Despite great challenges, Alexej von Jawlensky created an impressive body of work. His art, characterised by bold colours, simplified forms and spiritual depth, influenced the development of Expressionism and modern art.
Jawlensky died on 15 March 1941 in Wiesbaden. His legacy lives on in important works such as the series ‘Variations’, ‘Mystical Heads’ and ‘Faces of the Saviour’, which are exhibited in many museums around the world today.
