wassily kandinsky

Wassily Kandinsky was a Russian painter and art theorist, widely recognized as one of the pioneers of abstract art in Western art. Born on December 16, 1866, in Moscow, Kandinsky initially studied law and economics before turning to painting at around age 30. He settled in Munich in 1896 to study art and was deeply influenced by various artistic movements including Expressionism, Fauvism, and Art Nouveau. Kandinsky's work evolved into pure abstraction, where he emphasized the spiritual and emotional power of color and form, aiming to create a universal visual language that transcended the physical world. He believed art should evoke emotions similarly to music, which he considered the most transcendent art form. Kandinsky's style developed through phases—from representational imagery and symbolism to abstract geometric and biomorphic forms. He also contributed significantly to art theory and was involved with influential avant-garde groups such as Der Blaue Reiter and taught at the Bauhaus school. He died in 1944 in France but left a lasting impact on modern and abstract art.