This lecture delves into the remarkable life and visionary work of Marianne Werefkin, a pioneering figure in Expressionist painting whose contributions have too often been overlooked. From her early training under the famed Russian realist Ilya Repin to her vibrant career in Germany, Werefkin’s story is one of artistic innovation, cultural exchange, and profound philosophical inquiry. Known as “the baroness” among close companions like Wassily Kandinsky and Gabriele Münter, she was celebrated not just for her emotionally-driven canvases, but for her fierce intellect and multilingual brilliance.
This talk traces her pivotal role in fostering dialogue among artists, writers, and musicians across Europe. It also considers the personal and social forces behind her decade-long artistic silence, and her triumphant return to painting in 1906, when the Peredvizhniki style of her youth gave way to a vivid palette and radical stylization strikingly ahead of its time.
Delivered by art historian Ailsa McTernan
Should you want to watch this talk live online or watch the replays, please contact Mariska@arthistoricallondon.com
Image:
Marianne Werefkin, Self-portrait, c. 1910,Tempera on paper, 51 x 34 cm, Lenbachhaus, Munich
