Kandinsky. The path to abstraction

by Hartwig Fischer (Editor), Sean Rainbird (Editor)

Wassily Kandinsky (18661944) pioneered abstract art and is a key figure in the history of modernism. This groundbreaking, fully illustrated study of Kandinsky's formative years follows his move from figurative painting to abstraction. Inspired in his early years by folklore scenes from Russia and the heightened colors of the landscape of southern Germany, he want on to co-found the Expressionist "Blaue Reiter" (Blue Rider) group of painters with Gabriele M]nter, Alexej Jawlensky, and Franz Marc. Gradually he stripped away the descriptive detail in his painting, hiding visual imagery behind fields of bright color encompassed by strong lines. He felt that what he had discovered was a path to a new spiritual reality, more akin to music than the physical world.

Genres: Art

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2006

Reviews

[Lamadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a catalog of a Kandinsky exhibit at the Tate in 2006. There are four very good essays that have very different themes and styles. The first essay is a formalist approach on Kandinsky's path to abstraction. The second essay is a historical look on the people who were influences on his early works, specifically Munter. The third looks at the effect of his Russian past on his early works and the fourth is a formalist look at his use of color and color theory. The fourth one was the hardest to get through, but the other three were all very interesting and took very different points of view to Kandinsky's early works.