Russian painter Vasily Kandinsky was one of the founders of such a direction in art as abstractionism. At the beginning of the 20th century, a group of expressionists “The Blue Horseman” was formed in Germany, and the Russian artist took an active part in it.
His life was filled with vivid events, he changed his citizenship three times, becoming first a German citizen, and then a French citizen. But consider the main heritage of the great painter - the most famous paintings by Kandinsky.
Amazon, 1917
One of Kandinsky’s most popular works is the Amazon painting on glass. The girl in a black dress on a black horse with a reddish tint, the artist wrote in 1917.
Now the picture is exhibited at the State Art Museum of Azerbaijan.
Amazon in the mountains, 1917
As the exact opposite, the painting "Amazon in the Mountains" was painted in the same period of creativity. But there are lighter tones on this canvas.
A woman is sitting on a white horse in a greenish dress. But here the background is darker, and it is not clear whether the day is cloudy or night in the moonlight.
Akhtyrka. Red Church, 1908
All the beauty of a wonderful corner of Russia was transferred to artists in the cycle "Akhtyrka Manor". The canvas “The Crane Church” was written in 1908, where the artist was able to convey notes of longing for the beloved places of the Motherland.
The Blue Horseman, 1903
When this painting was presented to the public, an influential group in the history of art of the same name was formed in Germany.
From the vague outlines of nature, as if the figure of a horseman is running out of nowhere, running away from an impending shadow.
Beach baskets in Holland, 1904
Kandinsky traveled a lot, after one of the trips on a plain cardboard this picture was painted in oil.
Experts note that it feels the influence of impressionism.
Autumn in Murnau, 1908
The transition from impressionism to abstraction was noted in the 1908 painting Autumn in Murnau. Natural forms smoothly flow into geometric shapes.
The work is in one of the private collections.
Mountain, 1909
In 1909, Kandinsky completely goes into the direction of abstractionism, which is confirmed by his painting "Mountain".
Against the background of an abstract landscape with a mountain, two human figures are barely distinguishable.
First abstract watercolor, 1910
It seems that in 1910, Vasily Vasilyevich fully established himself in the direction of his work.
This historical, turning point in the life of the creator was expressed in the painting “First Abstract Watercolor”.
Improvisation 10, 1910
Abstract images and colors offer the viewer to think out the meaning. In this early abstraction, the artist is still looking for his own special style, which is why he called it “Improvisation”.
Lyric, 1911
And again, music lays on the canvas with careless strokes. The result was a kind of lyrical poem, which is now on display at the Rotterdam Boymans Museum - van Böningen.
Improvisation 31 (Sea Battle), 1913
Another lyrical improvisation with a play of color and abstract forms. In the cycle of lines and emotions, you can see the blue sails of the ships.
Kandinsky’s painting today delights visitors to the US National Gallery of Art in Washington.
Composition VI, 1913
According to Kandinsky's bibliographers, the master prepared for a long time to write this canvas, and then embodied everything in three days.
During the work, Vasily repeated only one word “flood”, but pronounced it in German “uberflut”.
Moscow, 1916
Smolensky Boulevard
Kandinsky is more a thinker than an artist. After staying in the capital of Russia during the First World War, the portrait of Moscow appeared in the imagination of the painter like this.
Red Square
The blurry images clearly convey the turmoil and anxiety of the big city.
Composition VII, 1913
One of the most famous works of the Russian artist was written in Munich in 1913.
Today, the universally recognized masterpiece of fine art of the twentieth century is on display at the Tretyakov Gallery.
Squares with concentric circles, 1913
This canvas has become a mature work in the direction of abstract art. It can be seen that the artist, experimenting with color and shapes, found his images, his geometric shapes, able to convey mood and emotions.
The Blue Circle, 1922
And again, before us is the creative search for the great painter. Improvisation with color in a very limited geometric space.
But as a result of searches, the dominant “blue” appears in the name, and the abstraction rises above other directions.
Black and Purple, 1923
In 1922, Kandinsky returned to Germany. Anxiety and homesickness spilled out in the picture. Vivid colors give it lyricism, but strict and sharp geometric angles level the lyrical mood.
On White II, 1923
The clash of opposites, both color and geometric, creates incredible tension, the clash of good and evil, life and death.
Yellow, Red, Blue, 1925
Experiments with color are always inherent in the creative nature of the artist. Let the viewer choose his own color, determine which is better suited to the geometric shapes presented.
And, in the picture, as we see, Kandinsky himself has long been determined, and continues to create in a manner peculiar only to him.
Sequence, 1935
Of the later works, the canvas “Sequence” should be noted. From the scattered elements of the composition, certain forms appear in front of us. It is seen that after some experiments, Kandinsky again returns to abstractionism.
The painting is very similar to a stave with notes, but the painter does not have a single note like another.
Summarizing
Each owl has a perception of abstraction, and each one discovers something of his own in Kandinsky's paintings. But experts agree that the most famous and best paintings by Vasily Kandinsky are “Composition VI” and “Composition VII”, but, as we see, all his works are not devoid of artistic splendor and beauty.
Article author: Valery Skiba