Prerowstrom Marianne von Werefkin (1860-1938)

The canvas presents a landscape dominated by vibrant color and expressive brushwork. Here we observe a winding waterway that cuts through a terrain characterized by undulating hills and dense vegetation. The artist employed a palette heavily reliant on oranges, yellows, blues, and greens, applied with thick impasto strokes that lend the scene a palpable texture and dynamism.
The foreground is defined by an expanse of ochre-toned grasses or fields, rendered in short, choppy brushstrokes which suggest movement and perhaps even a slight breeze. These warm tones contrast sharply with the cool blue of the river, creating a visual tension that draws the eye across the composition. The waterway itself appears almost artificial in its clarity and intensity, reflecting the sky above in a simplified manner.
Midground features a cluster of trees and shrubbery, painted with darker greens and browns, which act as a transitional zone between the foreground fields and the distant horizon. A small island or promontory juts out into the river, adding depth to the scene.
In the background, a structure – seemingly a building with a peaked roof – is visible on a raised area of land. It’s rendered in simplified forms, suggesting distance and perhaps hinting at human presence within this otherwise natural setting. The sky above is layered with horizontal bands of blue and grey, contributing to a sense of atmospheric perspective.
The paintings subtexts revolve around the interplay between nature and civilization. While the landscape appears wild and untamed, the presence of the building and the deliberate composition suggest an imposed order or observation. The intense colors evoke a heightened emotional response – not necessarily a literal depiction of reality but rather an expression of feeling about the scene. The artist’s choice to emphasize color over precise detail implies a focus on subjective experience and the power of visual sensation, suggesting that the landscape is being perceived through a filter of personal emotion or memory.