Wassily Kandinsky

Wassily Kandinsky, a painter and theorist, is a true legend in abstraction and art history, whose concepts transformed the fundamental essence of art and its perception. Kandinsky emerged as a respected leader of the abstract art movement in the early 20th century.

Biography of Wassily Kandinsky

Wassily Wassilyevich Kandinsky was born in Moscow in 1866. 

The artist's parents were musicians, with his father primarily supporting the family through the sale of various exotic teas. In the earliest years, the household was peaceful and idyllic. However, when the artist turned five, everything changed as his parents decided to divorce. To shield their child from the resulting chaos, his parents sent young Kandinsky to live with his aunt in Odesa, Ukraine. Fortunately, he found life in Odesa beautiful. Kandinsky learned to play the piano and cello alongside his aunt and studied drawing with a private teacher.

Even during these early years, Kandinsky displayed signs of his characteristic intimate relationship with art, a trait that would later make him globally renowned. His childhood drawings revealed specific color combinations influenced by his belief that "each color lives by its mysterious life." Growing up in such an atmosphere, young Kandinsky nurtured dreams of becoming an artist. However, despite his aspirations, his parents, miles away, had other plans for his future. Although it saddened him, Kandinsky followed his family's wishes and studied law.

In 1886, Wassily Kandinsky enrolled as a student at Moscow University. Despite his lack of enthusiasm for the subjects he studied, he distinguished himself as one of the most promising students of his generation. The artist graduated with honors and earned a fieldwork scholarship that led him to Vologda, where he studied traditional criminal jurisprudence and modern confrontations between law and religion. Upon his arrival in Vologda, Kandinsky had largely set aside his aspirations and dreams of becoming an artist, focusing instead on advancing in the field of law.

However, the folk art and overall spirituality of the Vologda people reignited a long-forgotten spark within him, and he found his artistic tendencies resurfacing with newfound strength. It's worth noting that, despite his constant contemplation of art, Kandinsky never neglected his duties as a law practitioner, excelling in his profession even as his heart pulled him in another direction. In 1892, he married his cousin Anna Chimyakina and assumed a position at the Moscow Faculty of Law, all the while creating drawings and prints in his spare time.

Two pivotal events significantly impacted Kandinsky and precipitated a shift in his career. The first occurred in 1895 when he attended an exhibition of French Impressionists in Moscow. The second was his experience of hearing Wagner's "Lohengrin" at the Bolshoi Theatre. Wagner's composition served as the definitive spiritual catalyst that marked the beginning of Kandinsky's artistic career, and the influence of the Impressionists, particularly Claude Monet's "Haystacks," proved to be the most crucial moment in the artist's life. Enamored by the beauty of nonrepresentational art, Kandinsky decided to forsake his law career and relocate to Munich to fully dedicate himself to the study of art.

The artist gained admission to a prestigious private painting school and subsequently extended his education at the Munich Academy of Arts. Despite this formal education, he remained predominantly self-taught, steadfastly holding onto his childhood notions of independent colors. These internal conflicts did not hinder his success; he excelled as one of the top students in Munich.

Much of Wassily Kandinsky's art was rooted in theories, concepts, and ideas rather than practice. Before he arrived in Munich, he focused more on developing theories about how art should behave rather than actively painting. However, upon reaching Germany, Kandinsky began painting extensively, moving away from the emphasis on theoretical work. He initially explored conventional themes and art forms, experimenting with various techniques and styles, even though his teachers did not always approve. Despite this, he persisted in forming theories derived from dedicated spiritual study, heavily influenced by the profound relationship between music and color. These concepts would serve as the foundation upon which Kandinsky built his career, solidifying his status as the father of abstract art.

After graduating with honors, Kandinsky ventured into the world, forming friendships with like-minded individuals who shared his concepts and a desire to revolutionize the art scene. He actively exhibited his work, taught art classes, and published his ideas on art theories, rapidly becoming a prominent figure challenging the foundations of academic teachings and traditional techniques.

In 1911, Kandinsky divorced his wife and moved in with his new girlfriend, Gabriele Münter. The couple traveled extensively, eventually settling in Bavaria before the outbreak of World War I.

Then, Kandinsky established the New Artists Association in Munich. However, another group would prove to be more significant than The Association. In 1911, The Blue Rider (Der Blaue Reiter) group was formed. Founded by Paul Klee, Alexej von Jawlensky, Marianne von Werefkin, Franz Marc, August Macke, and Gabriele Münter, Der Blaue Reiter was an art movement that lasted until the outbreak of World War I. It played a fundamental role in Expressionism and was a key influence on abstract painting.

The onset of World War I brought Kandinsky back to Russia, where the constructivist movement influenced his artistic vision. This shift led him towards hard lines, dots, and geometry instead of expressive colors. Returning to Russia marked a traumatic experience for Kandinsky, especially when he and his new wife, Nina Andreevskaya, lost their only son at just over three years of age. Following these events, the artist was never quite the same, understandably affected by the circumstances of war and the loss of a child.

After the Revolution in Russia, Kandinsky returned to Germany several times. Notably, he taught at the Bauhaus school in Berlin. During these mature years, Kandinsky focused more on writing poems and plays than paint. According to his account, teaching at the Bauhaus school brought him the most joy during a challenging period. Unfortunately, in 1933, when the Nazis seized power and established complete control over Germany, stormtroopers forcibly closed down the Bauhaus school. This event compelled Kandinsky to flee Berlin for his survival. 

He and Nina relocated to the suburbs of Paris in the late 1930s, with Marcel Duchamp helping them find a small apartment to weather the war. In July 1937, Kandinsky and other artists were featured in the Degenerate Art Exhibition in Munich, an event that marked one of the last vibrant moments in German art before the war. However, the Nazis confiscated 57 of Kandinsky's abstract works, and many were lost in the process.

The emotional toll of the Second World War proved too much for the artist, and he did not live to see the war's end. Wassily Kandinsky passed away in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, in 1944.

Wassily Kandinsky's Art Style

Renowned for his lyrical style and innovative ideas on nonfigurative art and its connections to music and soul, Wassily Kandinsky pioneered the first modern abstract paintings.  

In Kandinsky's world, color wasn't merely a tool to depict the observable surroundings; it went beyond being a simple instrument for imitation or retelling familiar things. For him, color was an expression of emotion rather than a faithful description of nature or subject matter.

Kandinsky firmly believed that each era in art leaves an enduring mark on the expression of the generations creating at that time. His vibrant interpretations of color, shaped by musical and spiritual sensibilities, undeniably reshaped the artistic landscape at the beginning of the 20th century.