Lot Essay
Whilst in Zurich in 1915, Münter executed a series of works on board which she called Abstrackte Studien and which demonstrate her proximity in both personal and artistic terms to her partner, Wassily Kandinsky. Two similar works were exhibited in the recent Gabriele Münter exhibition in Munich (Städtischen Galerien in Lenbachhaus, July-Nov. 1992, nos. 138 and 139).
Abstrakte Studie Nr. 4 possibly belongs to the group of nine Studien that Herwarth Walden of the Sturm Galerie in Berlin sent to be exhibited in Stockholm in July 1915. It appears that the number 13 on the reverse of the present work refers to a hand-written list of paintings shown at Liljevalchs Konsthall in Stockholm in 1917. It is generally understood that this work was also exhibited in Copenhagen at Den Frie Udstilling in 1918 as no.66, Abstrakte Studie fra Kaféen 4.
In this painting, a fine and rare example of Münter's abstract work, the artist appears to have abstracted her motif from a café scene; the dark shape in the upper right section could derive from the outline of a figure seated with his arm leaning on a table.
Abstrakte Studie Nr. 4 possibly belongs to the group of nine Studien that Herwarth Walden of the Sturm Galerie in Berlin sent to be exhibited in Stockholm in July 1915. It appears that the number 13 on the reverse of the present work refers to a hand-written list of paintings shown at Liljevalchs Konsthall in Stockholm in 1917. It is generally understood that this work was also exhibited in Copenhagen at Den Frie Udstilling in 1918 as no.66, Abstrakte Studie fra Kaféen 4.
In this painting, a fine and rare example of Münter's abstract work, the artist appears to have abstracted her motif from a café scene; the dark shape in the upper right section could derive from the outline of a figure seated with his arm leaning on a table.