Oskar Kokoschka, Tre Croci-Dolomite Landscape

1913

Oskar Kokoschka and Alma Mahler were entangled in an obsessive love affair that lasted from 1912 to 1915 and led to a highly productive artistic phase for the artist. In August 1913, they embarked on a journey through the South Tyrolean Dolomites. Mahler wrote in her memoirs that their life together had been “all about work”: “In the morning, we would go into the dense forest, looking for the darkest green spots, and, when we reached a clearing, we found young horses at play; that fascinated Oskar Kokoschka. We had his sketchbook and colored pencils with us – despite his fear of being alone, he remained by himself and created uniquely beautiful drawings.” Enriched by numerous nuances of green and blue, reinforced with purple accents, the imposing mountain scenery gives a charged, dramatic impression, which is affirmed by the note “After the storm” on a sketch.

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