Portrait of a Woman

Art Historical Context

**Portrait of a Woman** by Alexej von Jawlensky, created around 1911, captures the essence of early 20th-century Expressionism in a compact oil on board format, measuring 64.5 x 53.7 cm. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's CMC Department from the Collection of Arnold and Joan Saltzman, this painting exemplifies Jawlensky's transition toward bold, spiritual portraiture. Born in Russia and active in Munich, Jawlensky co-founded the Der Blaue Reiter group with Wassily Kandinsky in 1911–1912, embracing non-naturalistic colors and forms to express inner emotion amid Europe's prewar artistic ferment. The choice of board as a support—less common than canvas—allowed for a direct, textured application of oil, lending immediacy to Jawlensky's simplified facial structures and vibrant hues. This intimate scale draws viewers close, mirroring the artist's fascination with the human face as a window to the soul, influenced by Fauvism and Russian icon traditions. As World War I loomed, such works challenged traditional portraiture, prioritizing psychological depth over literal likeness. Today, this piece invites reflection on Jawlensky's enduring legacy in modernist portraiture, bridging Eastern spirituality and Western abstraction for a timeless gaze. (198 words)