Variation: Sonnenaufgang - Alexej von Jawlensky

This abstract painting by Alexej von Jawlensky, titled 'Variation: Sonnenaufgang', uses simplified forms and expressive colours to evoke the atmosphere of a sunrise. The work reflects Jawlensky's interest in conveying spiritual and emotional states through art.

Alexej von Jawlensky, a Russian Expressionist painter active in Germany, is known for his abstract portraits and landscapes characterised by intense colour and simplified forms. He was a member of the Neue Künstlervereinigung München (New Artists' Association of Munich) and later Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider), two important groups in the development of German Expressionism. Jawlensky's work aimed to convey spiritual and emotional states through colour and form, rather than representational accuracy. His later series of abstract 'Heads' and 'Meditations' are particularly well known. 'Variation: Sonnenaufgang' (Sunrise) exemplifies Jawlensky's expressive use of colour and simplified forms. The painting features a composition of rounded shapes and broad brushstrokes in hues of blue, green, pink, and black. These colours blend and contrast to evoke a sense of light and atmosphere, capturing the essence of a sunrise in an abstract manner. The composition is balanced, with the darker tones providing a counterpoint to the lighter, more luminous colours. The overall effect is one of contemplative serenity, reflecting Jawlensky's interest in spiritual expression through art.