Kandinsky: Russian Years
Kandinsky's Artistic Development Began in Russia
Wassily Kandinsky is one of Russia's most famous artists. Kandinsky is considered to be the father of abstract art. This three-part series explores his life and artisti
Wassily Kandinsky produced artworks that were innovative and experimental. He strived to produce what he called "pure" art, as opposed to art that centered on an object or series of objects. (Today we call this "abstract" art.) Kandinsky's artistic concepts separated him from other artists and allowed him to explore implications of line, color, and form.
Kandinsky's creativity developed during his youth. He was born in 1866 to Russian parents in Moscow, and at age three traveled with them to Rome, Venice, and Florence, which gave young Kandinsky a healthy dose of exposure to classic art. After his parents settled in Odessa, at age ten he took piano and cello lessons. At the same time, Kandinsky also studied drawing. This childhood synthesis of art forms can be credited with influencing Kandinsky's paintings with their famous "musical" quality.
Initially, Kandinsky did not choose to pursue a career in art. He went to law school, and in 1893 was awarded a professorship at Moscow University. In 1895 he was reintroduced to art by way of the French Exhibitionists. Monet's Haystacks particularly affected him because he was unable to discern the subject of the painting from the colors used. He was struck by Monet's painting and how the viewer's reaction to color and form were more vital to the effect of the painting than the viewer's ability to fully comprehend the subject of the painting.
In 1896 Kandinsky dedicated himself to the pursuit of art. He turned down an offer for a professorship at the University of Dorpat then moved to Munich. A year later he entered Anto Azbe's art school and became acquainted with Alexei Jawlensky, another Russian who was preoccupied with color. Eventually, Kandinsky became a student of Franz Stuck.
Kandinsky founded an artistic group called the Phalanx. While the group held exhibitions by notable artists like Monet and the Neo-Impressionists, Kandinsky explored art on a personal level, perfecting his use of materials. Because innovative use of color was so important to him, his technique of employing tempera paint became significant-it allowed clarity and smoothness of texture. Using this and other techniques, he could produce works that were more dreamlike, rather than realistic, in style.
The period from 1904 (when the loosely-organized Phalanx group disbanded) to 1907 was a relatively stale period for Kandinsky. He traveled Europe and moved to Sevre. He saw the work of Matisse, Picasso, and Braque at this time, but his artworks did not seem unduly influenced by any of these artists; Kandinsky was on a road he intended to explore without diversion.
Discussion of Kandinsky's life and artistic development continues in Kandinsky: Munich Years.
