February Art: meditation
Gabriele Münter might be the least known of the artists associated with Der Blaue Reiter group in Munich, which included Frank Marc, Alexei von Jawlensky, to an extent Paul Klee, in music Arnold Schönberg, and Münter’s partner Wassily Kandinsky. That she was one of the most creative is obvious from this painting, chosen here as Brigid’s Day tribute.
Sinnende or Meditation was painted in 1917 after Münter had left her house with Kandinsky in Murnau for Stockholm as part of a series featuring model Gertrude Holz, a young Swede of Jewish descent. The idea seems to be a solitary but not melancholy contemplation, with all the sense of reflective feeling inherent in the German word. This typical northern European theme is explored with southern colours and contrasts, like the rich scarlet lamp and fruit. The moment depicted might be fruitful, too, something suggested by a playful composition, wall window and table drawn together through black outlines with the foreground forms, violet flowers as it were sprouting like ideas from her head.
thebicyclops 