Alexej von JawlenskyGroßes Stilleben (Vase mit Rosenstrauß, Dunkelrote Blume) resp. Bouquet à l'

Alexej von Jawlensky
Großes Stilleben (Vase mit Rosenstrauß, Dunkelrote Blume) resp. Bouquet à l'
Oil on firm textured card. 55.1 x 34.1 cm. Framed. Signed and dated 'A. Jawlensky 37' in purple lower left. - Verso on the card, overpainted by Jawlensky in black, a discarded composition (colour fields), variously inscribed and titled, i.a.: probably numbered by Lisa Kümmel "N. 35" as well as dated at center "1937", titled below "Dunkelrote Blume(n) auf Blau" in red chalk probably by an unknown hand and twice inscribed "Bouquet à l'heure bleue" in white by Andreas Jawlensky. - In places with small old retouches; professionally cleaned and restored. Upper and lower margins trimmed (old).

M. Jawlensky/Pieroni-Jawlensky/A. Jawlensky 2222

We would like to thank the Jawlensky Archive, Locarno, for additional, confirmatory indications and information; the painting is documented at the Archive.

Provenance
From the artist's estate, Private possession, Locarno (Andreas Jawlensky); Galerie Grosshennig, Düsseldorf (acquired in 1960 directly from the estate); Private possession, Rhineland (since 1960); Private collection, Rhineland

Exhibitions
Düsseldorf 1956 (Galerie Vömel), Ölbilder von Alexej von Jawlensky, no. 33 ("Bouquet à l'heure bleue"); Cologne 1958 (Galerie Aenne Abels), Alexej von Jawlensky, no. 59 ("Bouquet à l'heure bleue"); Berlin 1958 (Haus am Waldsee), Alexej von Jawlensky, no. 96 (lender Galerie Aenne Abels); Munich 1959 (Städtische Galerie), Alexej von Jawlensky, no. 69 (lender Galerie Aenne Abels)

Literature
Clemens Weiler, Alexej Jawlensky, Cologne 1959, no. 781 with illus. p. 283 ("Dunkelrote Blume") resp. no. 789 without illus. ("Bouquet à l'heure bleue") (identical according to estate documentation)

The Galerie Grosshennig purchased this large floral piece from the artist's estate in 1960 and resold it to a private collection in the same year. On its reverse side it is, among other things, titled “Bouquet à l'heure bleue”. This title in particular beautifully captures the poetic atmosphere of the composition, which seems to dissolve entirely in the blue and reddish violet of the subtly shaded colour tones with a few brighter contrasts of light.
It is well known that in the evening, after sunset and shortly before nightfall, it is possible to observe how objects and the colours and forms that constitute them change, how contours and three-dimensionality become blurred. The atmosphere is in fact saturated with the reflected glow of the firmament, the “bluing” of the gathering darkness, but precisely in this brief moment blossoms once more unfold the ultimate magic of their scent and develop a very distinctive, almost indescribable and unreal luminosity.
Nonetheless, Jawlensky's Expressionist oeuvre does not pursue a naturalistic impression, instead, it is subject to its own formal principles. In his artistic “parallel universe” there are analogies, memories and emotional evocations. On account of his illness, 1937 was the last year in which Jawlensky painted. “Bouquet à l'heure bleue” is a characteristic example of his late style, which matured to a final mastery during his years in Wiesbaden.

Alexej von Jawlensky
Großes Stilleben (Vase mit Rosenstrauß, Dunkelrote Blume) bzw. Bouquet à l'h
Öl auf starkem strukturierten Karton. 55,1 x 34,1 cm. Gerahmt. Unten links violett signiert und datiert 'A. Jawlensky 37'. - Rückseitig auf dem schwarz von Jawlensky übermalten Karton mit verworfener Komposition (Farbfelder) verschiedentlich beschriftet und betitelt, u.a.: wohl von Lisa Kümmel beziffert "N. 35" sowie mittig datiert "1937", darunter von fremder Hand mit roter Kreide betitelt "Dunkelrote Blume(n) auf Blau" und in weiß von Andreas Jawlensky zweifach bezeichnet "Bouquet à l'heure bleue". - Stellenweise mit kleinen alten Retuschen; fachmännisch gereinigt und restauriert. Ober- und