Gabriele Münter: A Retrospective at the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza in Málaga
From November, 2024, to February 9, 2025, the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza in Málaga, Spain, will host an unmissable retrospective dedicated to Gabriele Münter (1877–1962), a leading figure in German Expressionism and co-founder of the renowned artistic group Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider). This exhibition offers a unique opportunity to delve into the life and work of an artist who challenged the conventions of her time, making a significant contribution to the birth of modern art.
LEFT: Gabriele Münter, Still Life on the Tram (After Shopping), 1909-1912, Cardboard, 50.2 × 34.3 cm The Gabriele Münter and Johannes Eichner Foundation, Munich; RIGHT: Gabriele Münter, Future (Woman in Stockholm), 1917, Oil on canvas, 97.5 × 63.8 cm, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, donation of Mr. and Mrs. Frank E. Taplin, Jr.
A Pioneer of Expressionism
Born in Berlin in 1877, Gabriele Münter was one of the few women of her time to seriously pursue a career in art, despite the limitations imposed on women in the art world. After the early death of her parents, Münter moved to the United States for a period, an experience that profoundly influenced her worldview. Upon returning to Europe, she began studying at the School of Painting for Women in Düsseldorf and later at the Phalanx School of Art in Munich, where she met Wassily Kandinsky, her mentor, partner, and great artistic inspiration.
In 1911, together with Kandinsky and other artists, Münter co-founded the group “Der Blaue Reiter” (The Blue Rider), which rejected traditional academic norms and explored new avenues of expression through color, form, and emotion. Münter distinguished herself with her unique style, characterized by vivid colors and essential lines, transforming landscapes, everyday objects, and portraits into powerful emotional representations.
LEFT: Gabriele Münter, Self-Portrait,1909-1910, Oil on cardboard, 49 x 33.7 cm, Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid; RIGHT: Gabriele Münter, Abstract Study with House, circa 1910-1912, Cardboard, 43.7 × 31 cm, The Gabriele Münter and Johannes Eichner Foundation, Munich
The Exhibition Pathway
The retrospective features over 100 works, including paintings, drawings, prints, and photographs, offering a comprehensive overview of the artist's career. The exhibition is organized into thematic and chronological sections, guiding visitors through the key moments of Münter's life and artistic production:
The Beginnings in Photography
The exhibition opens with a focus on Münter's work as an amateur photographer. This modern and less codified medium compared to traditional painting had a profound influence on her creative approach.
LEFT: Gabriele Münter, “Three Women in Their Sunday Best”, Marshall, Texas, June 19, 1900, The Gabriele Münter and Johannes Eichner Foundation, Munich, © Gabriele Münter, VEGAP, Madrid, 2024; RIGHT: Gabriele Münter, Little Girl Standing at the Side of a Street, Saint Louis, Missouri, 1900, The Gabriele Münter and Johannes Eichner Foundation, Munich, , © Gabriele Münter, VEGAP, Madrid, 2024
Travels and the Kandinsky Period
A significant part of the exhibition delves into the paintings created during Münter's travels across Europe and North Africa alongside Kandinsky. These works reflect a period of intense stylistic experimentation.
LEFT: Gabriele Münter, View from the House of the Artist’s Brother in Bonn*, 1908, Oil on cardboard, 47.2 × 33.6 cm, Carmen Thyssen Collection; RIGHT: Gabriele Münter, School House, Murnau*, 1908, Oil on cardboard, 40.6 × 32.7 cm, Carmen Thyssen Collection
The Blue Rider Period
The works created during this pivotal phase exemplify Münter's contribution to the Expressionist movement, highlighting her ability to synthesize forms and colors into highly evocative compositions.
LEFT: Gabriele Münter, Still Life with St. George, 1911, Cardboard, 51.1 × 68 cm, Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus und Kunstbau München, Munich, donation of Gabriele Münter, 1957; RIGHT: Gabriele Münter, Dragon Fight, 1913, Oil on canvas, 78 × 100 cm, Centre Pompidou, Paris, Musée National d’Art Moderne/Centre de Création Industrielle, donation of the Société Kandinsky, 2015
Exile and Return
During World War I, Münter lived in Scandinavia, where she continued to explore new artistic languages. Upon her return to Germany, she adapted to a transformed artistic context, demonstrating extraordinary flexibility and an unrelenting desire for experimentation.
LEFT: Gabriele Münter, Lady in an Armchair, Writing (Stenography: Swiss Woman in Pyjamas), 1929 Canvas, 61.5 × 46.2 cm, The Gabriele Münter and Johannes Eichner Foundation, Munich; RIGHT: Gabriele Münter, The Blue Excavator (Construction Site on the Olympics Road to Garmisch), 1935-1937, Canvas, 60.5 × 92.5 cm, The Gabriele Münter and Johannes Eichner Foundation, Munich
The project is organized in collaboration with the Gabriele Münter-und Johannes Eichner-Stiftung and the Städtische Galerie am Lenbachhaus und Kunstbau in Munich. Following its presentation in Málaga, a modified version of the exhibition will be shown at the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, further expanding Münter’s reach to a broader audience.
The Gabriele Münter retrospective offers a unique opportunity to explore the life and work of an artist who left an indelible mark on modern art, redefining the role of women in the cultural landscape of the 20th century. An unmissable event for art and history enthusiasts alike.
LEFT: Installation View: “Gabriele Münter, The Great Expressionist Woman Painter” in Museo Nazionale Thyssen-Bornemisza di Málaga; RIGHT: Installation View: “Gabriele Münter, The Great Expressionist Woman Painter” in Museo Nazionale Thyssen-Bornemisza di Málaga
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