Frosty Day

1915

Alexej von Jawlensky

Associated Names
Alexej von Jawlensky

Painter, Russian, 1864 - 1941

This painting is composed of flowing lines and rounded shapes in various colors. The forms and hues create a diverse landscape, with some shapes resembling natural elements like trees or vegetation, water or sky. Linear patterns in green suggest hills or foliage, with small dots of yellow. The shapes are mostly in cool tones, including greens, blues, and purples. There are small dots of white on the bottom of the painting. A vibrant red shape at the top left and an orange shape near the center stand out amidst the greens. Around the different shapes, the off-white color of the canvas is visible. The painting is surrounded by a dark teal border.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    oil on canvas board

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Benjamin and Lillian Hertzberg

  • Dimensions

    overall: 26.7 x 35.6 cm (10 1/2 x 14 in.)
    framed: 61 x 52.7 x 4.8 cm (24 x 20 3/4 x 1 7/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2004.140.39

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Consigned to Emmy Scheyer (1889-1945, known from 1924 as Galka E. Scheyer), Hollywood, California, probably 1924;[1] probably returned 1928 to the artist; consigned 1933 to Galka E. Scheyer, Hollywood; (compulsory sale, U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Alien Property, Los Angeles, 1954, lot 8, no. 54);[2] (Paul Kantor Gallery, Los Angeles). (Kleemann Galleries, New York).[3] Benjamin and Lilian Hertzberg, New York; bequest 2004 to NGA.
[1] Provenance as given by Maria Jawlensky, Lucia Pieroni-Jawlensky, and Angelica Jawlensky, Alexej von Jawlensky: Catalogue Raisonné of the Oil Paintings, Volume Two 1914-1933, London, 1992: no. 664.
[2] The number "54" is inscribed on the reverse of the painting in an aqua-green color.
[3] There is a label on the reverse from Kleemann Galleries, New York, with the number K7075; it is possible this is where the Hertzbergs purchased the painting.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1920

  • [travelling exhibition, in Germany, organized by Emmy Scheyer], 1920-1921.

1922

  • [Jawlensky exhibition], Galerie Emil Richter, Dresden, 1922, no cat.

1923

  • [Jawlensky exhibition], Kunsthaus Schaller, Stuttgart, no cat.

  • [Jawlensky exhibition], Kunsthütte, Chemnitz, 1923, no. 245, no cat.

1929

  • Die Blauen Vier Galerie Ferdinand Möller, Berlin, 1929, no. 60.

1933

  • The Blue Four, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1933, no. 53.

1956

  • Alexej v. Jawlensky 1864-1941, Kleemann Galleries, New York, 1956, no. 15, repro.

2017

  • Alexei Jawlensky, Neue Galerie, New York, 2017, no. 35, repro., as Variation: Frosty Day.

Bibliography

1920

  • Scheyer, E.E. "Alexej Jawlensky." Das Kunstblatt (1920): 163, repro., as Variation I.

1959

  • Weiler, Clemens. Alexej Jawlensky. Cologne, 1959: no. 600.

1970

  • Weiler, Clemens. Köpfe, Geschicte, Meditationen. Hanau, 1970: no. 1161 (English translation by Edith Küstner and J.A. Underwood, New York, 1971).

1991

  • Jawlensky, Maria, Lucia Pieroni-Jawlensky, and Angelica Jawlensky. Alexej von Jawlensky: Catalogue Raisonné of the Oil Paintings 4 vols. London, 1991: 2:no. 664, repro.

Inscriptions

lower left: A.J.; upper right reverse: A. Jawlensky / 1915 / No 1.; center reverse, all by Emmy Galka Scheyer: Frosttag / "Frosty day" / made in Germany

Wikidata ID

Q20191904

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