Alexej von Jawlensky
Russian | 1864-1941
Blumenstilleben (Still Life with Flowers)
En verso: Oil on canvas board
TABL E O F CO N TE N TS Painting Overview . . ....................... 4 Literature..................................... 6 Exhibited.. .................................. 14 Auction Comparables................. 23 Museum Comparables................ 25
Oil on canvas board | Painted 1908 Signed ‘a. jawlensky.’ (lower right) Canvas board: 21 1/2" high x 19 1/2" wide | 54.61 cm x 49.53 cm Frame: 30 7/8" high x 29 1/2" wide x 2 1/4" deep | 78.29 cm x 74.93 x 5.71 cm
I knew that I must paint not what I saw, but only what was in me, in my soul. - Alexej von Jawlensky
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O V E R V I EW
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his stunning floral still life is the work of esteemed Expressionist artist Alexej von Jawlensky. Fondly regarded as the “Russian Matisse,” Jawlensky’s Blumenstilleben (Still Life with Flowers) showcases his well-earned legacy as one of the world's most important 20th-century artists. A symphony of shapes and hues, this composition captures a seemingly quiet interior scene bursting with life. Punctuated by vibrant flowers in a vase and a blossoming house plant, the still-life teems with energy. Jawlensky achieves a threedimensional texture by applying opaque paint with bold brushstrokes that contrast the composition's flattened planes. The artist juxtaposes the fiery hues of the table with the cool tones of the wall, creating a mesmerizing visual dichotomy. While the bold contrasts of shape, color, flatness and texture certainly conjure a connection to Matisse, Jawlensky’s bold originality shines through. This composition demonstrates why he is highly esteemed in his own right. Interestingly, this exquisite composition features a unique surprise. The ever-creative Jawlensky includes a highly abstracted landscape sketchlike painting on the back of this composition. While the composition on the front makes a great effort to delineate specific shapes to achieve its enchanting visual effect, the composition on the back showcases an unbridled, Expressionist counterpoint, demonstrating the sheer breadth of Jawlensky's creativity and artistic prowess. Alexej von Jawlensky was born in 1864 and studied at the famed St. Petersburg Academy. Throughout his prolific career, his style evolved from working with lush colors to dabbling with abstraction, and he later fully embraced Expressionism through his friendships with Henri Matisse and Emil Nolde. Jawlensky also played an important role in the development of
the Blue Rider movement and the careers of other artists including Kandinsky and Münter. As a key figure in the Expressionist movement, Jawlensky’s works are highly sought after by private collectors and museums alike. His work is currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, California and the Museum Wiesbaden in Germany, which has Europe's largest and most important Jawlensky collection. Blumenstilleben was exhibited at the Locarno Museum in Switzerland’s 1989 exhibition Alexej von Jawlensky, Milan’s Palazzo Reale’s 1995 exhibition Alexej von Jawlensky and Städtische Galerie’s 1998-1999 exhibition Deutsche Künstlerkolonien (German Artists' Colonies) 1890-1910. ●
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OVERVIEW
PROVENANCE Wengernalp-Jungfraubahnen [Wengernalp Railway], Interlaken, by the 1930s Sale, Galerie Kornfeld, Bern, 22 June 2001, lot 61 Private Collection, New York M.S. Rau, New Orleans
L ITERAT U R E M. Jawlensky, L. Pieroni-Jawlensky and A. Jawlensky, Alexej von Jawlensky, Catalogue Raisonné of the Oil Paintings, 1890-1914, vol. I, London, 1991, no. 231, p. 191 (illustrated in color p. 196) Alexej von Jawlensky-Archiv AG, Forschungsbeiträge zu Leben und Werk Alexej von Jawlenskys, Locarno, Switzerland, 2009, vol. III, no. 231, pp. 59-60 (verso illustrated in color p. 59)
E X H IB I T E D Pinacoteca Communale, Casa Rusca, Alexej Jawlensky, Locarno, September – November 1989, no. 22, p. 43 (illustrated in color) Städtische Galerie, Alexej von Jawlensky, Bietigheim-Bissingen, July – September 1994, no. 12, p. 64 (illustrated in color) Palazzo Reale, Alexej von Jawlensky, Milan, April – June 1995, no. 16, p. 63 (illustrated in color) Städtische Galerie, Deutsche Künstlerkolonien 1890-1910, Karlsruhe, September 1998 – January 1999, p. 330 (illustrated in color)
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L I T ER AT UR E
M. Jawlensky, L. Pieroni-Jawlensky and A. Jawlensky, Alexej von Jawlensky, Catalogue Raisonné of the Oil Paintings, 1890-1914, vol. I, London, 1991, no. 231, p. 191 (illustrated in color p. 196)
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LITERATURE
M. Jawlensky, L. Pieroni-Jawlensky and A. Jawlensky, Alexej von Jawlensky, Catalogue Raisonné of the Oil Paintings, 1890-1914, vol. I, London, 1991, no. 231, p. 191 (illustrated in color p. 196)
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LITERATURE
M. Jawlensky, L. Pieroni-Jawlensky and A. Jawlensky, Alexej von Jawlensky, Catalogue Raisonné of the Oil Paintings, 1890-1914, vol. I, London, 1991, no. 231, p. 191 (illustrated in color p. 196)
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LITERATURE
M. Jawlensky, L. Pieroni-Jawlensky and A. Jawlensky, Alexej von Jawlensky, Catalogue Raisonné of the Oil Paintings, 1890-1914, vol. I, London, 1991, no. 231, p. 191 (illustrated in color p. 196)
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LITERATURE
Alexej von Jawlensky-Archiv AG, Forschungsbeiträge zu Leben und Werk Alexej von Jawlenskys, Locarno, Switzerland, 2009, vol. III, no. 231, pp. 59-60 (verso illustrated in color p. 59)
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LITERATURE
Alexej von Jawlensky-Archiv AG, Forschungsbeiträge zu Leben und Werk Alexej von Jawlenskys, Locarno, Switzerland, 2009, vol. III, no. 231, pp. 59-60 (verso illustrated in color p. 59)
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LITERATURE
Alexej von Jawlensky-Archiv AG, Forschungsbeiträge zu Leben und Werk Alexej von Jawlenskys, Locarno, Switzerland, 2009, vol. III, no. 231, pp. 59-60 (verso illustrated in color p. 59)
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LITERATURE
Alexej von Jawlensky-Archiv AG, Forschungsbeiträge zu Leben und Werk Alexej von Jawlenskys, Locarno, Switzerland, 2009, vol. III, no. 231, pp. 59-60 (verso illustrated in color p. 59)
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EX H I B I T E D
Städtische Galerie, Alexej von Jawlensky, Bietigheim-Bissingen, July – September 1994, no. 12, p. 64 (illustrated in color)
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EXHIBITED
Städtische Galerie, Alexej von Jawlensky, Bietigheim-Bissingen, July – September 1994, no. 12, p. 64 (illustrated in color)
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EXHIBITED
Städtische Galerie, Alexej von Jawlensky, Bietigheim-Bissingen, July – September 1994, no. 12, p. 64 (illustrated in color)
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EXHIBITED
Städtische Galerie, Alexej von Jawlensky, Bietigheim-Bissingen, July – September 1994, no. 12, p. 64 (illustrated in color)
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EXHIBITED
Palazzo Reale, Alexej von Jawlensky, Milan, April – June 1995, no. 16, p. 63 (illustrated in color)
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EXHIBITED
Palazzo Reale, Alexej von Jawlensky, Milan, April – June 1995, no. 16, p. 63 (illustrated in color)
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EXHIBITED
Palazzo Reale, Alexej von Jawlensky, Milan, April – June 1995, no. 16, p. 63 (illustrated in color)
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EXHIBITED
Palazzo Reale, Alexej von Jawlensky, Milan, April – June 1995, no. 16, p. 63 (illustrated in color)
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EXHIBITED
Palazzo Reale, Alexej von Jawlensky, Milan, April – June 1995, no. 16, p. 63 (illustrated in color)
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AU C T I O N C O M PA R A B L ES
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Jawlensky Alexej von Stillleben mit Blumen und Orangen (Stilllife with flowers and oranges) Description Painted circa 1909.oil on board laid down on Medium oil on board laid on panel Year of Work Circa 1909 Size Height 22.3 in.; Width 28.2 in. / Height 56.6 cm.; Width 71.7 cm. Sale of Sotheby's London: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 [Lot 00002] Impressionist & Modern Art Evening Sale Estimate 800,000 1,200,000 GBP (1,258,455 1,887,682 USD) Sold For 2,505,250 GBP Premium (3,940,931 USD) Title
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Jawlensky Alexej von Mit rundem Tisch Alexej von Jawlensky (18641941) Mit rundem Tisch oil on board 22 x 20 in. (55.8 x Medium oil on board Year of Work Circa 1910 Size Height 22 in.; Width 20 in. / Height 55.8 cm.; Width 50.8 cm. Sale of Christie's New York: Tuesday, May 8, 2018 [Lot 00032] The Collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller: 19th and 20th Century Art, Evening Sale Estimate 3,000,000 4,000,000 USD Sold For 3,852,500 USD Premium Title Description
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Jawlensky Alexej von Title Blaue Vase mit Orangen Description Alexej von Jawlensky (18641941)Blaue Vase mit Orangensigned with the initials Medium oil on canvas Year of Work Circa 1907 Size Height 17.9 in.; Width 22.3 in. / Height 45.5 cm.; Width 56.7 cm. Cat. Rais. 187, Jawlensky/PieroniJawlensky/Jawlensky Misc. Signed Sale of Christie's London: Tuesday, February 2, 2010 [Lot 00022] Impressionist/Modern Evening Sale Estimate 600,000 800,000 GBP (956,937 1,275,917 USD) Sold For 1,273,250 GBP Premium (2,030,701 USD)
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Jawlensky Alexej von Title Stilleben mit Kanne (StillLife with jug) Medium oil on board laid on panel Year of Work Circa 1913 Size Height 27 in.;23 Width 20.1 in. / Height 68.5 cm.; Width 51.1 cm. m s ra u . c o m Sale of Sotheby's London: Monday, February 5, 2007 [Lot 00007] German Sale
Year of Work Circa 1910 Size Height 22 in.; Width 20 in. / Height 55.8 cm.; Width 50.8 cm. Sale of Christie's New York: Tuesday, May 8, 2018 [Lot 00032] The Collection of Peggy and AUCTION COMPARABL ESDavid Rockefeller: 19th and 20th Century Art, Evening Sale Estimate 3,000,000 4,000,000 USD Sold For 3,852,500 USD Premium 3
Jawlensky Alexej von Blaue Vase mit Orangen Alexej von Jawlensky (18641941)Blaue Vase mit Orangensigned with the initials Medium oil on canvas Year of Work Circa 1907 Size Height 17.9 in.; Width 22.3 in. / Height 45.5 cm.; Width 56.7 cm. Cat. Rais. 187, Jawlensky/PieroniJawlensky/Jawlensky Misc. Signed Sale of Christie's London: Tuesday, February 2, 2010 [Lot 00022] Impressionist/Modern Evening Sale Estimate 600,000 800,000 GBP (956,937 1,275,917 USD) Sold For 1,273,250 GBP Premium (2,030,701 USD) Title Description
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Jawlensky Alexej von Title Stilleben mit Kanne (StillLife with jug) Medium oil on board laid on panel Year of Work Circa 1913 Size Height 27 in.; Width 20.1 in. / Height 68.5 cm.; Width 51.1 cm. Sale of Sotheby's London: Monday, February 5, 2007 [Lot 00007] German Sale Estimate 500,000 700,000 GBP (979,900 1,371,860 USD) Sold For 938,400 GBP Premium (1,839,076 USD)
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M U S EUM C O M PA R A B L E S
Alexej von Jawlensky | Japanese Flower 1913 Medium: Oil on cardboard mounted on masonite Dimensions: 211/8 x 191/2 inches | 53.70 x 49.50 cm
Norton Simon Museum
Pasadena, CA, United States
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MUSEUM COMPARABL ES
Alexej von Jawlensky | Still Life with Yellow Flower Circa 1915 Medium: Oil and pencil on canvas, mounted on board Dimensions: 131/8 x 11 inches | 33.30 x 28.00 cm
Norton Simon Museum
Pasadena, CA, United States
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MUSEUM COMPARABL ES
Alexej von Jawlensky | Still Life with Image of Saint Circa 1912
Museum Wiesbaden Wiesbaden, Germany
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MUSEUM COMPARABL ES
Alexej von Jawlensky | Still Life with Yellow Table Cloth 1910
Museum Wiesbaden Wiesbaden, Germany
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MUSEUM COMPARABL ES
Alexej von Jawlensky | Blue Mountains (Landscape with Yellow Chimney) 1912
Museum Wiesbaden Wiesbaden, Germany
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MUSEUM COMPARABL ES
Alexej von Jawlensky | Variation VII 1919 Medium: Oil on canvas board Dimensions: 141/8 x 101/2 inches | 35.88 x 26.67 cm
Los Angeles County Museum of Art Los Angeles, United States
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