The Neue Galerie is one of my favorite museums, because it is not like a museum. From the moment you enter and ascend the twisting circular staircase you are not in a stuffy institution, but in an elegant Fifth Avenue home. There is something so intimate about the space, and even when crowded, you can get up close and personal and really see the paintings.
I love Expressionism and come to the museum often to see the works of Klimt and Schiele. This was a special exhibition of the art of Alexei Jawlensky (1864-1941). He was Russian and went to Munich where he was influenced by the Expressionists.
But he kept his own individuality and is actually quite different. His work involves bold blocks of color, and is extremely simple. No ornate details. Portraits of plaintive faces, including "the Savior", as well as landscapes that are charming in their effect, as if one were viewing a garden or mountain scene in a dream. Sometimes, more hinted at than actualized, blurry and unfocused.
He used strong palette knife strokes. Sometimes, I found some of his more abstract blocks of color too simple! But I loved his childlike flowers, and the faces of exotic women, from Spain and Asia. Definitely a show worth seeing. And to cap it off, there is nothing more elegant and old world than the Café Sabarsky.
I love Expressionism and come to the museum often to see the works of Klimt and Schiele. This was a special exhibition of the art of Alexei Jawlensky (1864-1941). He was Russian and went to Munich where he was influenced by the Expressionists.
But he kept his own individuality and is actually quite different. His work involves bold blocks of color, and is extremely simple. No ornate details. Portraits of plaintive faces, including "the Savior", as well as landscapes that are charming in their effect, as if one were viewing a garden or mountain scene in a dream. Sometimes, more hinted at than actualized, blurry and unfocused.
He used strong palette knife strokes. Sometimes, I found some of his more abstract blocks of color too simple! But I loved his childlike flowers, and the faces of exotic women, from Spain and Asia. Definitely a show worth seeing. And to cap it off, there is nothing more elegant and old world than the Café Sabarsky.
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