Staffelsee 1934

Gabriele Munter painted this vibrant landscape, Staffelsee, using bold strokes and a rich, earthy palette. It feels like she’s not just painting what she sees, but how she feels about the place. That’s artmaking as a process, right there. The materiality of the paint is key here. Notice how the colors are laid down in distinct blocks, thick in some areas, almost translucent in others. Look at the way the blue of the lake meets the browns and greens of the land, those hard edges create a dynamic tension. See that little patch of lavender on the distant hills? It's like a small, unexpected burst of joy, a little wink from the artist. Munter's work reminds me a bit of some of the Fauvist painters, like Derain, who also weren't afraid to use color expressively, but with a more grounded feel. Ultimately, it’s a painting that invites you to see the world not just as it is, but as it could be, a world of emotion and possibility.