Wassily Kandinsky | Post-Impressionism period, 1896-1909

One of the pioneers of Abstraction in Western art, Wassily Kandinsky's (1866-1944) early work was influenced by Art Nouveau, Impressionist and Post-Impressionist styles.

The number of his existing paintings increased at the beginning of the 20th century; much remains of the landscapes and towns he painted, using broad swaths of colour and recognisable forms.

Such works reveal Kandinsky’s strong interest in the tradition of capturing light and the life of cities evident in Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, as well as his love of vibrant and expressive color.

Wassily Kandinsky and Gabriele Münter in Saint-Cloud, 1906

Wassily Kandinsky’s Post-Impressionist period occurred during the first phase of his artistic career, roughly from 1896 to 1908/1909.

After moving to Munich at age 30 to study art, Kandinsky was deeply inspired by the French Impressionists, particularly Claude Monet, but he quickly moved toward the more emotive and expressive techniques of Post-Impressionism.

Wassily Kandinsky | Post-Impressionism period / ♪ Chopin ♪

Key Characteristics of this Period

Vibrant Color Usage: Influenced by the Fauves and Post-Impressionists like Vincent van Gogh, Kandinsky used bold, non-naturalistic colors to express mood rather than reality.

Subject Matter: His early works focused on landscapes, Russian folk motifs, and scenes from daily life.

Technique: He often employed impasto (thick application of paint) and fast, expressive brushstrokes that prioritized emotional impact over representational accuracy.

Symbolic Influence: He was heavily influenced by Russian folk art and Orthodox iconography, which emphasized spiritual presence over realism.

Uno dei pionieri dell'Astrattismo occidentale, Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944) subì l'influenza dell'Art Nouveau, dell'Impressionismo e del Postimpressionismo nelle sue prime opere.

Il numero dei suoi dipinti esistenti aumentò all'inizio del XX secolo; molto rimane dei paesaggi e delle città che dipinse, utilizzando ampie pennellate di colore e forme riconoscibili.

Queste opere rivelano il forte interesse di Kandinsky per la tradizione di catturare la luce e la vita delle città, evidente nell'Impressionismo e nel Postimpressionismo, nonché il suo amore per i colori vibranti ed espressivi.

Caratteristiche principali del periodo

Pennellate ed Energia: Le opere di questo periodo presentano pennellate dense e pastose, spesso puntiniste, utilizzate per bloccare forme riconoscibili come edifici, alberi e cieli.

Colori Vibranti: Ispirato dal folklore russo e dal fauvismo, Kandinsky utilizzava tonalità accese e non naturalistiche per evocare stati d'animo e spiritualità.

Soggetti: I dipinti ritraggono spesso paesaggi di Murnau, scene fiabesche russe e visioni mitologiche.