Willem Kalf | Dutch Golden Age painter

Willem Kalf (1619-1693) was a Dutch Golden Age painter who specialized in still lifes. Later in his life, Kalf became an art dealer and appraiser.

Life and work

Willem Kalf was born in Rotterdam, in 1619. He was previously thought to have been born in 1622, but H. E. van Gelder's important archival research has established the painter's correct place and date of birth. Kalf was born into a prosperous patrician family in Rotterdam, where his father, a cloth merchant, held municipal posts as well.

Wassily Kandinsky | The movement of the Triangle

Concerning the Spiritual in Art, 1910

Many grievous obstacles along this road must be conquered, so as to arrive at the first stage; and even then an evil, unseeing hand may toss more obstacles in the way, so that this road sometimes appears to be totally impassable, as all landmarks vanish.

It is then that there unfailingly arises some human being, no different from the rest of humanity but for a secret power of "Vision" within him.

He sees and points the way. Sometimes he would prefer to lay aside his power, as it is a heavy cross to bear; but he cannot do so. Though scorned and hated, he never lets go but drags the cartload of protesting humanity after him, ever forcing it forward and upward, over all obstacles in his way.

Wassily Kandinsky | About General Aesthetic, 1910

Concerning the Spiritual in Art, 1910

Kandinsky's Introduction

Every work of art Is a child of its time, while often it is the parent of our emotions.

Thus, every cultural period creates art of its own, which can never be repeated again. An effort to revive art-principles of the past, at best, can only result in works of art resembling a still-born child. For example, it is impossible for us to relive or feel the inner spirit of the ancient Greeks.

The sculptor's attempts to employ Greek principles can only achieve a similarity in form, while the work itself remains for all time without a soul.

Kandinsky | Lo Spirito dei colori

"Ogni opera d’arte è figlia del suo tempo, e spesso è madre dei nostri sentimenti" - Kandinsky

"Mi sembrava che l'anima viva dei colori emettesse un richiamo musicale, quando l'inflessibile volontà del pennello strappava loro una parte di vita", scriveva Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944), il fondatore dell'Arte Astratta.

Nel sangue russo di Kandinsky si erano confusi quello tedesco della nonna materna e quello orientale della bisnonna paterna, che era una principessa cinese.

La musica diede una particolare impulso alla sua anima, Mussorgskij, Rimskji-Korsakov, Balakirev, Cui e Borodin erano i suoi preferiti.

Mentre, Monet, con i suoi Covoni esposti a Mosca nel 1895, gli diede la certezza della sua vocazione: egli ricorderà sempre quelle tele per l'impressione che ne aveva ricevuta d'esser la pittura in essa indipendente e comunque assai più forte della realtà per suo mezzo raffigurata.

Edvard Munch | Kiss by the Window, 1892

"The Kiss by the Window" or "Kissing by the Window" is an 1892 oil on canvas painting by Edvard Munch, now in the National Gallery of Norway.

It forms part of his series known as The Frieze of Life, which treats the cycle of life, death and love and was produced between 1893-1918.

Kiss by the Window artwork depicts a couple who embrace each other as they fuse into one and their faces merge into a featureless single shape.

The kissing couple is surrounded by swirling darkness with the only source of light showing through the window which is covered by a curtain.

Edvard Munch | Kissing by the Window, 1892