DER BLAUE REITER

Der blaue reiter was a movement lasting from 1911 to 1914, fundamental to Expressionism, along with Die Brücke which was founded the previous decade in 1905.Painters Kandinsky and Marc worked on an almanac in which they showed their artistic conceptions. The title of the almanac, which then became the name of the group, Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider), came from the painting by Kandinsky. His Blaue Reiter ( Blue Rider ) was an adventure in the simplification and stylization of forms and the connection between music and painting.
The name Der Blaue Reiter was taken from one of Kandinsky’s works, Le Cavalier bleu.
Der Balue Reiter combined two currents: the general European Expressionism and French Fauvism and added to these currents an interest in inner and mystical construction, stemming from Theosophy.
The Blue Riders believed that colors, shapes and forms had equivalence with sounds and music, and sought to create color harmonies which would be purifying to the soul. Although in this very earliest works, the impressionistic influence was recognizable, the artists who took part in The Blue Rider were considered to be the pioneers of abstract art or abstract expressionism. Their work promoted individual expression and broke free from any artistic restraints. These Nietzsche's words sum up the group's motto, "Who wishes to be creative must first blast and destroy accepted values."
Members of der blaue reiter were;

Wassily Kandinsky

Franz Marc

August Macke

Paul Klee

Gabriele Münter

Alexej von Jawlensky

Heinrich Campendonk

Albert Bloch

Natalia Goncharova

Marianne von Werefkin

Lyonel Feininger

Arnold Schoenberg

David Burliuk
References;
http://www.arthistoryguide.com/Der_Blaue_Reiter.aspx
http://www.arthistoryunstuffed.com/der-blaue-reiter-painting-2/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_Blaue_Reiter#Members
http://www.huntfor.com/arthistory/c20th/blauereiter.htm