Storm Winds (Sturmwind) shows a small café at night, surrounded by bare trees and

stormy skies. Figures hug their shoulders inwards to brace themselves against the cold, while the windows reflect a multitude of colours, a stark contrast to the gloomy background. The painting also shows her interests in Vincent van Gogh's work and can be seen as a homage to his 1888 painting, The Night Café (Dias, 2018).

 

This work was created at some point between 1915 and 1917 as she travelled around

Switzerland with her fellow artist Alexej von Jawlenksy, the pair having fled Germany at the outbreak of the First World War (Dias, 2018). Due to the time period, Werefkin seems to have showcased the potential scene of how the people naturally graduate to the places of bright lights especially during the time of a crisis. Even as the trees become distorted and skies turn to blue, the brightly coloured café seem to be a safe, unmoving place for those who need it.