COLOGNE.- Gabriele Münter (1877–1962) was a central figure of German Expressionism and the Blue Rider artist group, which was founded at Münter’s house in Murnau. Her role as a dedicated proponent, mediator, and longtime companion of Wassily Kandinsky is well known and recognized. This exhibition demonstrates Gabriele Münter’s importance and independence as a painter: with more than 120 paintings, including works from her estate that are being presented to the public for the first time, it offers a new look at this strong artist.

Münter is one of the few women who played an early role in developing modernism. Her openness and willingness to experiment as a painter, photographer, and graphic artist is now being presented in detail for the first time. Her well-known paintings include portraits of figures such as Marianne von Werefkin and Kandinsky as well as romantic landscapes of her adopted home in Bavaria. The exhibition begins with rare photographs taken by Münter around 1900 during a multi-year trip through the United States. It focuses on her paintings, which, in addition to colorful portraits and landscapes, also include interiors, abstract works, and “primitivistic pictures.”

Thanks in particular to the Haubrich Collection, the Museum Ludwig holds paintings by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Max Pechstein, as well as artists from the Blue Rider group, such as Wassily Kandinsky, Franz Marc, August Macke, and Alexei Jawlensky. Surprisingly, the collection does not include any of Gabriele Münter’s paintings. On the occasion of the exhibition, the Museum Ludwig is planning to acquire the work Knabenkopf (Willi Blab) by Gabriele Münter, which is on view as a loan in the exhibition. To this end, the Freunde des Wallraf-Richartz-Museum und des Museum Ludwig e.V. started a major donation campaign that has already received a great response.

Director Yilmaz Dziewior: “I am delighted about this initiative to make this important acquisition for our collection. Gabriele Münter is a central figure of the Blue Rider group, which has been well represented in our collection since 1946 thanks to the Haubrich donation. The absence of her unique position is a gap in our holdings that was particularly important to me to fill.”

A large number of the works in the exhibition come from the Gabriele Münter and Johannes Eichner Foundation and from the Lenbachhaus in Munich, which is organizing the exhibition, as well as international collections such as the Des Moines Art Center in Iowa, the Center Pompidou in Paris, and the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

Curators: Matthias Mühling, Director, Lenbachhaus, Munich; and Isabelle Jansen, Gabriele Münter and Johannes Eichner Foundation; for the exhibition in Cologne: Rita Kersting, Deputy Director, Museum Ludwig