Wassily Kandinsky is a familiar figure for those interested in modern art, Gabriele Münter less so. However, she should have greater prominence, as she was fundamental in developing ideas which have usually been credited to Kandinsky alone: Tate Modern’s richly varied exhibition should return her to her rightful place.

Both Münter  and Kandinsky were founder members of a loose affiliation of artists called The Blue Rider, a group which also included Paul Klee, Marianne Werefkin and Franz Marc, among others.  While they worked in a variety of styles, all were interested in the expressive power of colour, and, to a greater or lesser degree, a love of nature and of a natural spirituality.

In this talk we will explore the exhibition, examining the artists involved, discussing the ideas they shared in common, and looking at the differences between them. Above all, we will discover the relevance of the group’s name, and its meaning for each of the artists.