Alexej von Jawlensky

Private Collection, Switzerland

Jawlensky’s exile to Switzerland in 1914 marks the start to one of the artist’s most creative periods. Upon arriving in Switzerland Jawlensky didn’t have access to a studio and therefore painted from his rental home overlooking Lake Geneva. In the years to come he vigorously worked on one motif – the view from his window and its numerous iterations. Up to the present day his significant impulses to the serial are highly recognised.

The Variations series represent one of Jawlensky’s most iconic periods and shows the artist’s progress from his earlier works. It is a milestone in the artist’s development. Jawlensky reduces trees, mountains and the lake to round or oval areas that sit next to each other so that fore- and background merge to one. In this variation the artist beautifully combines shades of blue, green and red to a balanced composition.

Landscape painting has a long art historical tradition. While standing in line with this tradition, the series does not depict the countryside on Lake Geneva, but the artist`s feelings in a period of uncertainty. Jawlensky`s variation series is a prime example of Expressionism. The artist used colours and forms to express his inner struggles, whereas the environment which he saw from his window only served as a trigger. The Variation series presents the viewer with an opportunity to get a glimpse of the artist`s soul and something as intangible as human feelings.