Lot 264 D

In 1931, after spending years living in different places without a studio of her own, Gabriele Münter permanently returned to Murnau; there, in the 1930s, she developed the floral still life into a special focus of her oeuvre.
In the “Blumen in braunem Topf” presented here - as in a number of other images of flowers from this period - the artist summarily delineates the outlines of the flowers, leaves and container with dark contour lines; she has applied the paint in broad, vigorous brushstrokes. The background, which is not identified any more specifically, continues the palette of the depicted flowers: this is a characteristic feature of this phase in Münter's oeuvre, and it is defined here by a delicate greyish violet and greenish nuances. The composition concentrates on the actual motif, without depicting the surrounding space or adding other decorative objects, as is otherwise often the case.
The flowers and leaves are not bound into a bouquet and have instead been placed together loosely in the wide clay pot; they practically pour over the sides of the container and some have fallen out. The three large flowers in tones of violet, pink and ochre are presumably anemones and are in full bloom; with their radiant red, orange, white and yellow, the other flowers form chromatic counterpoints.
This composition's particular charm derives from the arrangement of the plants. Instead of rising proudly above the vessel, they join together into a lively, subtly balanced ornament in the foreground of the picture. The brown clay pot thus becomes a part of the background and visually anchors the highly colourful flowers and leaves in the centre of the image.