Although the artist did not date this painting, it was clearly executed in 1908 together with similar works created under the influence of Fauvism, which Kandinsky had absorbed during his stay in Paris in 1906-1907. Unlike the Fauvists, however, his texture here is more compact, the palette darker, and the color is already clearly tending towards the liberation from its descriptive function.

Very little has changed in this cozy Bavarian town since that time and if you find this spot in Murnau (it is quite easy to do: look for one of the alleys near the Griesbräu hotel with a view of the Obermarkt), you will have an excellent opportunity to experience the same color vibrations, that the artist experienced a hundred years ago.

Ian Briscoe: Have just seen this painting and others by the artist at the Madrid, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. Lovely work.

Diane Carmichael, USA: We have the Houses on the Obermarkt print hanging above our fireplace and we love it....

Thomas Dislich from Switzerland: My wife and I have a print of "Houses at Murnau" (not the Obermarkt one) hanging in our bedroom since many years. We made several interesting discoveries of subliminar themes on that painting, we wonder how we could share or discuss our impressions?
Thanks very much in advance.

Timeline

1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944