In order to fully understand the art of Kandinsky, it is important to start with a definition of the word 'Abstract' (for it is not really a concept that we have come across, before in this course). Abstract art does not depict recognizable scenes or objects, but instead is made up of forms and colours that exist for their own expressive sake. In short it abandons the European tradition, the idea of art as the imitation of nature. Kandinsky, in a work known as the 'First Abstract watercolour' dated 1910 is often cited as the first person to paint an abstract picture. His work, his achievement in the search for a new form of expression in painting and a new conception of art in general, may look as though it has no precursors, however, in his case as with all other artists there are there were many influences which he encountered throughout his career, which had a profound effect on his road to the abstract. We can start with his childhood.

Kandinsky lived in Russia until he was 30 and his experiences were crucial to his development as an artist. The general impression of his early life in Russia (as with most middle class Russians) must be one of backwardness. He was drawn

In this book Kandinsky refers to several artist I have all ready mentioned as being important in the lead up to abstraction, namely Wagner (the composer) Mataisse for his colour and, Picasso for his form. However he also mentions Cezanne as being crucial. Cezanne as we can see in works such as ' Blue jar and bottle of wine' went some way to inventing a new language of colour, where the colours were divided up into four sections warm, cold, light and dark. If we look at Picture with a Black Arch 1912, Cezanne influence can be seen. Form and colour dominate this image, but Kandinsky has taken the idea of warm and cool colour, further, he is now using them to give depth to his image. If Cezanne had invented this new colour code, then it was the Fauves who carried on in the same manor. Remember Matisses the Green line where the background is made up of Red and blue, (the red projects and the blue recesses, here Kandinsky is using the same technique. But instead of figures and objects, colours now act in their place.

Japanese print (left) Black Strokes (right)

to a particular class of people, whose main aim was to bring their country up to speed with the rest of Europe. As a result he was made to feel that art was an uncalled for luxury. To try and help his country he decided to study law and political economics at university, however his interest in economics waned after his first real introduction to the arts.

Take Black Strokes 1913, there is a lose ground of different colours and forms but on top of these are black (linear symbols) which are completely independent of the colour.

The idea of colour is an important one in Kandinsky's art. Writing of his early experiences, Kandinsky referred to a family trip to Italy in 1869, where he first found he had the ability to experience colour - this ability to think in colour remained with his throughout his whole life and was an essential source of inspiration.

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Approximate Word count = 2237
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)