From 6 February to 24 May 2010 the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag will mount the first major retrospective of Kandinsky & Der Blaue Reiter in the Netherlands. With their brightly coloured and lyrical paintings, this group was important for the later development of modern art.
Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944) played an important pioneering role in the development of painting. His explosive compositions, inspired by experimental music and primitive folk art, roused strong emotions and incomprehension among art critics, public and fellow artists.
Kindred spirit
When he met Franz Marc, Kandinsky immediately recognised a kindred spirit who shared his interest in and ideas about painting and music. It was the start of a close friendship and in 1911 they set up Der Blaue Reiter (‘The Blue Rider’), swiftly attracting the adhesion of artists like Gabriele Münter, Alexej von Jawlensky, August Macke, Marianne von Werefkin and Heinrich Campendonck.
The group was highly diverse, both in style and membership. Yet there are common features; the Expressionism of Der Blaue Reiter is poetic and shows influences of Russian fairytales and traditional folk narratives. The artists worked instinctively, generally using bright colours, and were fascinated by nature and animals.
Pre-war tensions
With the outbreak of war in 1914, the group disintegrated. Kandinsky left his partner Gabriele Münter and returned to Russia. Macke and Marc were called up to fight at the front, where they perished in the trenches. The tension and uncertainty of the times can be clearly felt in the paintings made immediately before and during the First World War.
The exhibition is part of the Holland Art Cities event.
For more information, visit the website of Gemeentemuseum Den Haag.
| Sat | 06-02-10 | - | Sat | 24-05-10 | |||