Ohne Titel 1908

Alexej von Jawlensky made this untitled work with oil paint. Jawlensky was one of many early twentieth century artists who looked beyond academic traditions. Born in Russia but working in Germany at the time, Jawlensky was not interested in realistically depicting the external world. Instead, he was interested in exploring the inner, spiritual world through vibrant color, simplified forms, and dynamic brushstrokes. The cultural institutions of the time – museums, galleries, and schools – largely favored representational art. Avant-garde artists like Jawlensky challenged these institutions by creating abstract works that questioned traditional notions of beauty, skill, and artistic value. This move towards abstraction can be seen as a reflection of broader social and cultural changes happening at the time, as artists sought new ways to express themselves in a rapidly modernizing world. To fully appreciate Jawlensky's contributions, we can look at the history of modernism and study archival materials from galleries. This allows us to consider the social context that shaped his artistic production.