Gabriele Münter: A Life Painted Across the World
The opening of Gabriele Münter’s first ever retrospective in France is no accident. The Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris (16th arrondissement) boldly begins the exhibition with a world map spanning the entire first wall. This powerful visual introduction immediately establishes the scope of Münter’s life, a journey that stretched far beyond the confines of her German homeland. From her birth in Berlin in 1877 to her death in Murnau, Upper Bavaria, in 1962, Münter traversed the globe, a testament to her adventurous spirit and boundless curiosity.
The blue planisphere, featuring continents rendered as solid, imposing shapes, becomes a canvas for Münter’s own story. Marked upon it are her travels, extending to Tunisia in North Africa, deep into the heart of America, and as far north as the Lofoten Islands in the Norwegian Sea, beyond the Arctic Circle. The map also highlights her time in Paris, the cosmopolitan hub where she first exhibited her art in 1907. These voyages, each marked on the map, reveal the scale of a life defined by a strong temperament, an unwavering passion for art, and an insatiable appetite for discovery.
The map serves as a prologue, setting an energetic tone for the exhibition. It promises a journey through the life and work of a woman who embraced the world with vigor and enthusiasm. The two curators, Hélène Leroy, chief curator of heritage and head of collections at the MAM, and Isabelle Jansen, director of the Gabriele Münter and Johannes Eichner Foundation, bring this energy to life, expertly guiding visitors through Münter’s artistic evolution and personal experiences.
Münter’s life was deeply intertwined with the development of German Expressionism. While often overshadowed by her relationship with Wassily Kandinsky, this exhibition aims to reassert her as an independent artist with a unique vision. The exhibition will no doubt delve into her formative years, tracing her artistic development from early academic training to her embrace of avant-garde movements. It explores her early exposure to art through drawing lessons and later formal study at the Düsseldorf School of Art. The influence of this early training is likely to be apparent in her skillful draftsmanship and understanding of traditional artistic techniques.
Her move to Munich was a turning point. The city was a vibrant center for artistic innovation, and Münter quickly became immersed in the avant-garde scene. Here she began studying at the Phalanx School, where she met Kandinsky, a pivotal encounter that would shape both her personal and artistic life.
The relationship with Kandinsky proved to be intensely influential. Together, they traveled extensively, finding inspiration in the landscapes and cultures they encountered. They spent significant time in Murnau, a small town in the Bavarian Alps, where they purchased a house that became a gathering place for artists and a crucible for artistic experimentation. The landscapes of Murnau became a central motif in Münter’s work, its vibrant colors and dramatic forms fueling her artistic expression. The house itself, painted in bright colors both inside and out, became a collaborative art project and a reflection of their shared aesthetic vision.
During their time together, Münter and Kandinsky co-founded the Neue Künstlervereinigung München (NKVM), or New Artists’ Association of Munich, a group that aimed to challenge the conservative artistic establishment. This group laid the groundwork for the formation of Der Blaue Reiter, or The Blue Rider, one of the most important movements in German Expressionism. The Blue Rider, which included artists such as Franz Marc, August Macke, and Paul Klee, sought to express spiritual truths through abstract forms and bold colors. Münter played a vital role in the group, contributing her own unique artistic perspective and helping to organize exhibitions and publications.
The exhibition will certainly highlight Münter’s artistic contributions to Der Blaue Reiter. Her paintings from this period are characterized by their simplified forms, bold colors, and expressive brushstrokes. She often depicted landscapes, portraits, and still lifes, imbuing them with a sense of emotional intensity and spiritual depth. Her paintings from this era capture the essence of the German Expressionist movement’s desire to express inner emotions rather than represent external reality.
The outbreak of World War I brought an end to the close collaboration between Münter and Kandinsky. Kandinsky, being Russian, was forced to return to his homeland, and their relationship gradually dissolved. This separation was a deeply traumatic experience for Münter, and it had a profound impact on her life and work.
The interwar period was a challenging time for Münter. She struggled to maintain her artistic career in the face of economic hardship and the rise of Nazism. The Nazi regime condemned modern art as "degenerate," and many of Münter’s works were confiscated and destroyed. Despite these difficulties, she continued to paint in relative isolation, developing her own unique style.
During this period, her style evolved, becoming more introspective and focused on personal themes. She continued to paint landscapes, but her later works often reflect a sense of melancholy and isolation. Despite the hardships she faced, Münter persevered, continuing to create art until her death in 1962.
A remarkable act of courage and artistic preservation defines her legacy. During World War II, Münter selflessly hid a vast collection of Kandinsky’s works, along with her own, in the basement of her house in Murnau, saving them from destruction by the Nazis. This act ensured that these important works of art would survive and continue to inspire future generations.
The exhibition will undoubtedly culminate in an examination of Münter’s later years and her rediscovery by the art world. In the decades following her death, her work began to receive renewed attention, and she is now recognized as a significant figure in the history of German Expressionism. This retrospective in Paris represents a crucial moment in solidifying her place in the canon of modern art.
By showcasing the breadth and depth of her artistic achievements, the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris offers a long-overdue tribute to this influential artist, bringing her remarkable story and vibrant paintings to a wider audience. The exhibition promises to be an engaging and insightful exploration of a life lived passionately and creatively, a life painted across the world. The choice to open with a world map is a powerful reminder that Münter’s art, like her life, was shaped by her travels, her experiences, and her unwavering commitment to artistic exploration.
