Vasily Kandinsky: Around the Circle

Vasily Kandinsky was a 20th-century Russian abstractionist who sought to liberate painting from its ties to the natural world and promote the spiritual in art. This book features over half of the Guggenheim Museums deep holdings of works by Kandinsky, presenting the full arc of his artistic development and career.

Format: Hardback
Length: 196 pages
Publication date: 07 December 2021
Publisher: Guggenheim Museum Publications,U.S.

Vasily Kandinsky, a prominent figure in the realm of 20th-century abstraction, aimed to break free from the constraints of representing the natural world and instead emphasized the spiritual essence of art. This captivating publication delves into Kandinsky's life and work, offering a fresh perspective through a critical lens. It explores various themes, including his involvement with avant-garde artistic communities such as the Bauhaus, his connection to improvisation and music, his travels across Europe and Russia, and the influences that shaped his self-described anarchist approach to abstraction.

The text provides a comprehensive account of Kandinsky's life, spanning his years in Moscow, various German cities, and Paris. It sheds light on the artist's creative production, style, and the profound impact of political and social upheavals, including the Russian Revolution and World Wars I and II, on his artistic journey.

Kandinsky's artistic development is intricately linked to the Guggenheim Museum. Solomon R. Guggenheim began collecting his works in 1929, and the two met at the Bauhaus in Dessau. This book showcases a remarkable collection of over half of the museum's extensive holdings of Kandinsky's artwork, encompassing a wide range of mediums such as oil paintings, oil with sand, reverse-glass paintings, woodcuts, watercolors, and drawings on paper.

An illustrated chronicle of Kandinsky's life and career, encompassing selected exhibitions and publications, complements the volume, providing a deeper understanding of the artist's achievements and contributions to the world of art.

In conclusion, this publication offers a captivating exploration of Vasily Kandinsky's life, work, and profound influence on the world of art. Through a critical lens and a wealth of visual imagery, it provides a fresh perspective on an artist who remains a pivotal figure in the history of modernism. The Guggenheim Museum's extraordinary collection of Kandinsky's works serves as a testament to his enduring legacy and the profound impact of his artistic vision.

Weight: 1046g
Dimension: 229 x 263 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780892075591