Kandinsky: The Path to Abstraction

Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944) 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 Münter, 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.

Hartwig Fisher is director of the Folkwang Museum, Essen.

Sean Rainbird is director of the Staatsgalerie, Stuttgart, and the author of Beckmann.