Wassily Kandinsky (Vas-ah-lee) (Can-din-skee) (1866 – 1944) Spring Brook PTA Art Awareness Farbstudie (color study) Quadrate (squares with concentric rings)

Kandinsky was born In Moscow, Russia in 1866 You Continent: North America Country: USA City: Naperville Language: English Kandinsky Continent: Eur-Asia (Europe & Asia) Country: Russia City: Moscow (capital) Language: Russian 4000 miles

Born in 1866 (142 years ago) His parents read him Russian and German fairy tales. He played piano and cello. He liked to draw and paint. He could copy any painting from memory that he saw in a museum. Fascinated with bright colors Influenced by the houses and churches of Russia, whose glistening colors gave him the sensation that he was not walking into a building, but into a painting. Kandinsky – As a Boy Insert picture of Moscow’s influences St. Basil’s Cathedral in Red Square, Moscow

In 1886 he studied law and economics at the Moscow University. After passing his exams he started a teaching career at the Moscow Faculty of Law. He had many interests and apparently a great gift to teach himself different skills. Kandinsky – As a Young Man

In 1895 he saw Monet’s Haystack paintings. “They were confusing and difficult to recognize”. They were not realistic. Influence = To change the way one feels about something In 1896, at 30, he started a new career as an artist. Kandinsky – Becomes An Artist

Early Influences: Monet’s Haystacks He painted 20 Haystacks, all were at different times of the day.

Early Influences: Monet’s Haystacks The entire day of light playing upon the same object.

What Is Impressionism? Name comes from Claude Monet's Impression: Sunrise Impressionist = A group of French artists who painted: outdoor scenes short brushstrokes bright colors that shimmer Played with light in different weather & time of day

Russian Influences A Russian Scene Tempera on cardboard, 23x55 cm. Paris, Musée National Art Moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, France.

Murnau in Kandinsky Lived

View with a Railway and a Castle View with a Railway and a Castle

Murnau with a Church 1910 Murnau with a Church 1910

Moscow Environs. Earlier than 1908

Kandinsky’s First Abstract Painting Founder of Abstract Art at 44. More important to FEEL the painting than have it look REAL. He used colors to capture feelings He used patterns, like geometric shapes to reflect the rhythm of his work.

Kandinsky – Cossacks, 1911 Partly Abstract, still has real elements: Horse Building Birds Flying Soldiers in Red Hats (Cossacks) holding sabers. Tense, unhappy, doom of war

When He Saw Color, He Heard Music Kandinsky had a medical condition: when he heard MUSIC he saw COLOR. So, when he painted, he heard music His pictures were: free-flowing geometric pictographic “ I applied streaks and blobs of colors onto the canvas with a knife and I made them sing with all the intensity I could…” Kandinsky, Father of Abstract Art Kandinsky, Father of Abstract Art

Kandinsky – Composition VI, 1913 Composition = Musical Term Picture Danced: rounded waves zig-zags swinging curves Crescents

Kandinsky – Composition VI, st Look: Pink/White Vortex When do you typically hear the term Vortex?

Kandinsky – Composition VI, st Look: Pink/White Vortex When do you typically hear the term Vortex? 2 nd Look: Torrential Rain & Waves

Kandinsky – Composition VI, st Look: Pink/White Vortex When do you typically hear the term Vortex? 2 nd Look: Torrential Rain & Waves 3. Lower Center Crashing, falling colors Ghostly

Kandinsky (Sea Battle), 1913 Very bright and colorful Count the colors you see in this picture.

Kandinsky (Sea Battle), 1913 Very bright and colorful Count the colors you see in this picture.

Kandinsky (Sea Battle), 1913 How many different shapes? Oval Square Circle Triangle

How many different shapes? Oval Square Circle Triangle

Find the Lines: Curvy line Skinny line Straight line Wide line What do you think the picture is about ? Kandinsky – Sea Battle

Can you find the can you find the 2 boats at battle ?

cannons waves city falling in the distance Kandinsky – Sea Battle

Compare Sea Battles Compare how each artist painted Waves clouds of smoke Boats a "battle" looks like a picture taken with a camera Lifelike: Realism Idea: Abstract Which do you prefer? Why? Benjamin West, Battle of La Hogue, c. 1778, National Gallery of Art

Kandinsky = Father of Abstract Painting ABSTRACT not a “real” picture of a sea battle Want you to feel the “mood” of the battle through color, brush strokes, painted lines, and shapes. What colors create energy & excitement?

Colors Make You Feel… Pablo Picasso, The Tragedy, 1903, What is the Mood of Blues & Greens ? Happy fear anger excitement Sadness Are there certain colors that make you feel happy? What are they? What if Picasso used Pink & Oranges?

Kandinsky – Farbstudie, Kandinsky's abstracts became more geometric Boxes and Circles – very simple What type of rhythm or music do you hear with this painting? All the beats are different: What color pops in the circle? Circle thickness varies

Wassilly Kandinsky (can-din-skee) (1866 – 1944) Spring Brook PTA Art Awareness Farbstudie Quadrate (squares with concentric rings)