Exhibit
displays color and abstraction
By Marilee Movius
Special to the 49er
 Splashes
of color with intense vibrancy, abstract
portraiture and dark introspective images
are some main highlights depicted in the
Long Beach Museum of Art’s exhibition of
Alexej Jawlensky’s work, “Icons for a New
Era: The Spiritual Abstractions of Alexej
Jawlensky.”
The exhibition showcases over 30 of Jawlensky’s
paintings, which portray the evolution of
his artistry from 1908 to 1938. These images
include landscapes, still lifes and portraits
of abstract metaphors.
Jawlensky is regarded as a pioneer of abstraction
in 20th century art with much influence
from artists Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.
His landscape works “Variations on Grey
Paper” and “Chords in Reflection” are two
of the five pieces he creates in 1914 while
living in exile in Switzerland during World
War I. These paintings show much of Matisse’s
influence of bright and varied color usage
and abstraction, which viewers noticed.
“I have read that Jawlensky was greatly
influenced by Matisse, which was evident
in Jawlensky’s artwork,” Mindy Rosen, marketing
director of Downtown Los Angeles Business
Improvement District said. “I came to the
show today because Matisse is my favorite
artist and I wanted to see the influence.
Jawlensky has great talent with colors and
that is what I think of Matisse; great color,”
Jawlensky’s portraiture started in 1916
with the “Dreaming Head”, where he displays
a more fully modeled figure than later abstract
figures.
“I loved Jawlensky’s subjects because they
are a cross between realistic and abstract
elements by the way he shaded them and the
expression the figures have,” Rosen said.
Jawlensky also uses Matisse’s influence
in color theory, which makes this piece
popular among viewers.
“I was intrigued by the rouge spot on the
face because I like the not knowing and
uncertainty of what it is. Was it influenced
by something?” Rosen said.
The exhibit displays Jawlensky’s later works,
which entail serene, spiritual and abstract
faces, becoming almost geometric shapes
entirely in 1929.
“Frost”, “Late Summer” and “Winter Ringing”
all depict the same image, but with different
colors. Frost being light blues, pinks and
oranges; Late Summer is vibrant primary
colors and Winter Ringing is light white,
mustard, brown and pink colors.
“My favorite pieces are the line of seasons
which are so abstract that the face is taken
out of it and show mainly the season and
progression of color,” Jeff Berg, a viewer
at the museum said.
The museum is committed to showing artworks
in the context in the times in which they
are created, so the exhibition also includes
vibrantly colored glass and ceramic works
created between 1900 and 1940 by artists
such as Paul Dachsel, Julius Dressler, Charles
Schneider and Marguerite Friedlander Wildenhain.
The exhibition will continue through Apr.
6. “Icons for a New Era” was given to the
museum from the Milton Wishner collection
in 1979.
“I learned about the collection on my own
and I have returned a few times because
the museum did a good job getting the artist’s
various paintings and having a great display,”
Berg said.
Many viewers agree the exhibit portrays
more insight into the life of the artist
and the meaning of his paintings.
“I would recommend this exhibit because
he is an unknown artist that deserves to
be known. He has a strong sense of how to
use color,” Rosen said.
For more information one can call the Museum
at 562-439-2119 or go to www.lbma.org.
Museum hours are Tues.-Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
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