Wassily Kandinsky Art
“Color is a means of exerting a direct influence upon the soul,” wrote the pioneering abstract artist Wassily Kandinsky. The Russian-born painter and theorist dedicated his life to using abstract compositions of form and color to express deep emotion as well as to depict the language of music through visuals.
Kandinsky was part of a crucial moment in art history — the early 20th century — that saw the rise of movements like Cubism. He embraced styles such as Surrealism and Fauvism and was a leading figure in bringing together Der Blaue Reiter (the name means “The Blue Rider” after one of Kandinsky’s paintings) in 1911, a group of avant-garde artists in Munich, including Paul Klee and Franz Marc, who explored spiritual concepts through their art as a response to the materialism of the time. Kandinsky also led courses on analytical drawing and color at the Bauhaus. He was appointed by founder and architect Walter Gropius to teach in Weimar in 1922. He taught at all three of the legendary school’s locations and remained with the institution until its forced closure by the Nazi party in Berlin.
The artist had the rare and unusual trait of synesthesia, the neurological ability to perceive things using multiple senses. In Kandinsky’s case, it was the gift of “seeing” music, and music appeared in every aspect of his work, including the titles of his series “Compositions,” “Improvisations” and “Impressions.” He once described the experience of painting using a musical metaphor: “I had little thought for houses and trees, drawing colored lines and blobs on the canvas with my palette knife, and making them sing just as powerfully as I knew how.”
While Kandinsky isn’t the first abstract artist — mystically inclined painter Hilma af Klint was making nonrepresentational art well before him — he certainly had the biggest impact on establishing the style. His paintings inspired the likes of Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning and other Abstract Expressionists. From his Untitled (First Abstract Watercolor) painted in 1910 to future works, his unique take on using color and flair for bold, experimental compositions, Kandinsky is one of the most important figures of early-20th-century art.
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1960s Abstract Geometric Wassily Kandinsky Art
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1970s Abstract Wassily Kandinsky Art
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1960s Abstract Geometric Wassily Kandinsky Art
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1930s Expressionist Wassily Kandinsky Art
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1960s Abstract Geometric Wassily Kandinsky Art
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1970s Abstract Geometric Wassily Kandinsky Art
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1930s Modern Wassily Kandinsky Art
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1970s Expressionist Wassily Kandinsky Art
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1930s Modern Wassily Kandinsky Art
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1930s Modern Wassily Kandinsky Art
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1930s Modern Wassily Kandinsky Art
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1920s Expressionist Wassily Kandinsky Art
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Early 20th Century Wassily Kandinsky Art
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1910s Blue Rider Wassily Kandinsky Art
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Artists Similar to Wassily Kandinsky
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 8, 2024No one knows for sure how many paintings Kandinsky painted over the course of his life. Art historians estimate that he produced at least 500 oil paintings. However, there may be considerably more works that are forever lost. Because the Nazis labeled Kandinsky a degenerate, it is possible that a great number of his pieces were destroyed during the 1930s and ’40s. On 1stDibs, explore a range of Wassily Kandinsky art.
- What is Kandinsky famous for?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMay 14, 2024Kandinsky is famous for his work as an artist. The Russian-born painter and theorist dedicated his life to using abstract compositions of form and color to express deep emotion as well as to depict the language of music through visuals. Wassily Kandinsky was part of a crucial moment in 20th-century art history. He embraced styles such as Surrealism and Fauvism and was a leading figure in bringing together Der Blaue Reiter in 1911. This group of avant-garde artists in Munich included Paul Klee and Franz Marc and explored spiritual concepts through art as a response to the materialism of the time. Some of Kandinsky’s most famous works include Composition VIII, Composition VII, Several Circles, The Blue Rider and Circles in a Circle. Shop a collection of Wassily Kandinsky art on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 23, 2024Kandinsky was called the Father of Abstract Art because he was part of a crucial moment in art history. He was influenced by styles ranging from Surrealism to Fauvism and was a leading figure in bringing together Der Blaue Reiter, a group of avant-garde artists in Munich who explored spiritual concepts through their art as a response to the materialism of the time. Wassily Kandinsky also led courses on analytical drawing and color at the Bauhaus after being appointed by founder and architect Walter Gropius to teach in Weimar in 1922. He taught at all three of the legendary school’s locations and remained with the institution until its forced closure by the Nazis in 1933. Through his work, Kandinsky pushed modern art closer to total abstraction and inspired artists like Willem de Kooning and Joan Mitchell. Explore a range of Wassily Kandinsky art on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Wassily Kandinsky's art is largely in the style of Expressionism. The movement began in the early 20th century and focused on conveying the emotional aspects of the subject. Expressionist paintings tend to feature bright colors and dramatic lines. Find a range of Wassily Kandinsky art on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 20, 2024How much a Wassily Kandinsky painting is worth depends on its history, condition, size and other characteristics. In 2023, the artist's Murnau mit Kirche II sold for more than $44.7 million at an auction in London. Kandinsky used abstract compositions of form and color to express deep emotion as well as to depict the language of music through visuals. He was part of a crucial moment in art history that saw the rise of movements like Cubism. He was a leading figure in bringing together Der Blaue Reiter, a group of avant-garde artists who explored spiritual concepts through their art as a response to the materialism of the time. If you own a Kandinsky, seek the help of a certified appraiser or knowledgeable art dealer to determine how much your piece may be worth. Shop a collection of Wassily Kandinsky art on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 26, 2024What Wassily Kandinsky's most famous painting is called is The Blue Rider or Der Blaue Reiter. The work inspired the name of a group of avant-garde artists in Munich, including Kandinsky, Paul Klee and Franz Marc, who explored spiritual concepts through their art as a response to the materialism of the time. Kandinsky created the painting in 1911, and today it is a part of a private collection. It depicts a figure in a blue cloak riding a white horse across a tree-lined landscape. Shop a variety of Wassily Kandinsky art on 1stDibs.