Spaniard 1913

Alexej von Jawlensky painted ‘Spaniard’ with oil on canvas, though the date of its making remains unknown. The title, ‘Spaniard’, gives us an indication of its subject, and suggests that Jawlensky was interested in depicting the perceived image of foreign cultures. This interest came from the avant-garde art scene in Europe in the early twentieth century, in which artists were increasingly looking outside of Europe for inspiration. The Fauvist-like use of colour and the simplification of form are visual codes used by Jawlensky to express a romanticised version of Spanish identity. To fully understand the artwork, further research could explore how avant-garde artists, such as Jawlensky, borrowed from non-Western cultures. Only then can we start to understand the artist's place in the wider politics of imagery in early twentieth century Europe.