Japanese Flower - Alexej von Jawlensky

A 1912 Expressionist still life by Alexej von Jawlensky, featuring bold colours and simplified forms in a domestic arrangement.

Alexej von Jawlensky produced this work in 1912, a period during which his style shifted towards the bold, non-naturalistic colour palettes characteristic of the Expressionist movement. The composition presents a still life arrangement set against a deep, saturated red background. A central green pitcher holds a cluster of stylised flowers, flanked by a small figurine in traditional Japanese dress and a teapot. The foreground features a collection of fruit, rendered with simplified forms and heavy outlines. Jawlensky, a member of the Neue Künstlervereinigung München and later associated with Der Blaue Reiter, utilised colour here as an autonomous element rather than a descriptive tool. The heavy, dark contours surrounding each object isolate them within the pictorial space, creating a sense of flatness that draws attention to the surface of the cardboard. This approach reflects the influence of Fauvism and the artist's own search for a spiritual dimension in painting through the reduction of form to its essential components. The juxtaposition of the Japanese figurine with the domestic objects suggests an interest in the exoticism popular among European avant-garde artists of the early twentieth century. However, Jawlensky avoids literal representation, opting instead for a subjective interpretation of the scene. The application of paint is thick and direct, with visible brushwork that maintains the energy of the initial execution. This piece demonstrates the artist's ability to balance decorative arrangement with a raw, emotive quality, typical of his work during his time in Murnau and Munich. The stark contrast between the warm red backdrop and the cooler tones of the pitcher and fruit creates a visual tension that defines the character of the painting.