Marianne von Werefkin was a Russian-Swiss artist and one of the leading figures of the Expressionist movement in Germany. She was born in Tula, Russia, and studied art in St. Petersburg under Ilya Repin, who became a lifelong friend and mentor. Werefkin was a founding member of the Blue Rider movement, which aimed to create a new, more spiritual art that could help heal the world after the devastation of World War I. She was also a member of the Munich-based Neue Künstlervereinigung (New Artists' Association), but left the group in 1911 due to disagreements over artistic direction. Werefkin's paintings often feature bright, expressive colours and bold, gestural brushstrokes. Her work is characterized by a strong sense of spirituality and a belief in the power of art to transcend the physical world. After World War I, she moved to Switzerland, where she continued to paint and exhibit her work until her death in 1938.