Blaue Reiter, der

Loose association of German expressionist painters formed in 1911 in Munich. They were united by an interest in the expressive qualities of colour, in primitive and folk art, and in the necessity of painting ‘the inner, spiritual side of nature’, though their individual styles varied greatly. Two central figures were Kandinsky and Franz Marc.

A book explaining Blaue Reiter objectives, the Almanach, was published 1912, and there were two exhibitions, 1911 and 1912. Other members of the group were Gabriele Münter, August Macke, Alfred Kubin, Alexei von Jawlensky, Heinrich Campendonck, and Paul Klee.