Art prints of paintings
Alexej von Jawlensky

This collection brings together reproductions of Alexej von Jawlensky (1864–1941), a Russian painter active at the heart of the European avant-garde. Portraits, faces in intense colours, Mystical Heads, Abstract Heads, Meditations, Variations, landscapes and still lifes trace the gradual transition from observed figures towards a more synthetic form.

Alexej von Jawlensky, from Russia to Munich

Jawlensky left Saint Petersburg for Munich in 1896 with Marianne von Werefkin. There, he developed his painting through contact with modern artistic research, initially focusing on portraiture, the figure and still life. Vincent van Gogh was among the important sources of this early evolution.

In 1908, in Murnau, Jawlensky and Werefkin painted alongside Wassily Kandinsky and Gabriele Münter. Landscapes then became more simplified and more intense in colour. In 1909, Jawlensky and Werefkin helped found the Neue Künstlervereinigung München, an association whose context would later give rise to the Blaue Reiter.

Expressionist portraits and female faces

In the portraits made before the First World War, the face often occupies almost the entire surface. Dark outlines structure the eyes, nose and mouth, while the colours break free from natural modelling. Female Head illustrates this focus on expression.

The Blue Mantilla, Spanish women, dancers and fan-bearing figures combine frontal poses, accessories and clear contrasts. To bring several portraits together, choose works whose gazes or dominant colours echo one another.

Spanish women, dancers and costumed figures

Jawlensky repeatedly painted women wearing elaborate hairstyles, veils or evocative costumes. Flowers, hats, fans and mantillas create a decorative frame around the face. The individual model gradually becomes a pictorial type, constructed through the repetition of lines and colours.

The Spanish Dancer, the Spanish Infanta, The Greek Woman, the Egyptian Girl and Schokko show the variety within this group. The vertical formats heighten their presence and suit a wall composition arranged as a gallery of portraits.

The Mystical Heads

From 1917 onwards, the Mystical Heads series explored the face as an autonomous motif. The features are simplified without disappearing, and the titles sometimes guide the viewer towards an inner state. Mystical Head — The Wonder belongs to this group.

Three-quarter profiles, frontal faces, Poet or Sibyl invite comparisons between transformations of the same structure. A series of three works particularly highlights variations in lines, backgrounds and gazes.

The Abstract Heads

In the Abstract Heads, Jawlensky reduces the face further to a construction of bands, arcs and axes. The eyes gradually close, and the model’s individuality gives way to an inner image. Abstract Head — Gold and Pink combines this geometry with a luminous palette.

Blue-Red, Black-Yellow-Violet, Oriental Woman, Mysterium, Constructive Head and Guardian Angel explore distinct harmonies. The vertical format and frontal pose create a strong presence, even on a modestly sized wall.

Meditations and faces with closed eyes

The Meditations continue this exploration through Jawlensky’s final creative years. The face, often in a small format, is reduced to a few essential lines. Closed eyes and symmetry give the composition an immediately recognisable stability.

Meditation on a Golden Background, The Prayer, Summer Nap and the numbered works make it possible to create a highly coherent sequence. The differences in colour temperature then become the main basis for comparison.

Variations: a repeated and transformed landscape

Forced to leave Germany in 1914, Jawlensky settled in Switzerland and began the Variations series. Starting from a landscape motif seen from his window, he repeated a simple structure while altering the light, season and colour relationships.

Large Variation can be paired with Variation Night, Harsh Winter, Ascona or the Light Triptych. Together, these works show how the same framework can produce very different moods.

Murnau, Switzerland and colourful landscapes

The Murnau landscapes predate the Variations and contribute to the affirmation of his Expressionist language. Summer Evening in Murnau arranges houses, terrain and sky into areas of colour. The trees, roads and mountains remain recognisable despite the simplification.

Saint-Prex, Ascona and Lake Geneva then extend this exploration in Switzerland. Landscape on the Shores of Lake Geneva favours horizontality, while Prerow, Borkum and the Baltic open the collection towards other coastlines.

Still lifes, flowers and fruit

Still lifes accompany Jawlensky’s work throughout his career. Bottles, fruit, cups, vases and bouquets allowed him to organise forms and colours within a confined space. Still Life with Bottles and Fruit brings several objects together around a central axis.

Peonies, roses, lilacs, cyclamens, apples and oranges offer varied palettes. These compositions suit kitchens, dining rooms or small walls, but can also balance a gallery dominated by faces.

Figures, nudes and self-portraits

Seated figures, nudes, children and self-portraits reveal another facet of the collection. Self-Portrait makes it possible to compare the artist’s gaze with his more synthesised representations of the face.

The Portrait of the Dancer Alexandre Sacharoff, the Women with Fans and the female figures combine bodily attitude with colour structure. Their presence can create a transition between close-up portraits and landscapes.

Choosing a Jawlensky reproduction

The Mystical Heads, Abstract Heads and Meditations are predominantly vertical and work well alone or as a series. The landscapes of Murnau, Lake Geneva and the Baltic are better suited to a horizontal arrangement. Check the orientation and dimensions offered on each product page before composing your collection.

For the poster option, the print is produced on 140 g paper with HD rendering at 150 DPI. Dimensions, canvas and framing options vary according to the artwork, format and destination. The product page displays only the variants that are actually available.

Explore related artists and movements

Continue with Expressionist paintings, works by Wassily Kandinsky, paintings by Marianne von Werefkin or works by Franz Marc.

Frequently asked questions

Was Alexej von Jawlensky part of the Blaue Reiter?

He was active within the same Munich network as Kandinsky, Münter, Marc and Werefkin. He takes part with Werefkin in the Neue Künstlervereinigung München, an association linked to the emergence of Der Blaue Reiter.

What is the difference between Variations and Meditations?

Variations reinterpret a landscape motif transformed through colour. Meditations are based on a frontal face structure, with the eyes generally closed, rendered in a highly synthesised form.

How can I find out which formats are available?

Open the artwork page, then select the medium and dimensions. The price and options shown depend on the variants actually offered.