ELEMENTS OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION

Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944)

Kandinsky was a Russian painter, researcher and art theorist. He worked in France and Germany and taught at the Bauhaus school.

In 1911, together with other Expressionist painters, Kandinsky founded the Blue Rider. This group wanted to use colours to express ideas and feelings, rather than reflect reality. Kandinsky’s Expressionist works feature dynamic compositions, expressive line and a strong, aggressive use of colour. Kandinsky was the originator of abstract art. This style features the same use of line and colour and the aim of expressing feelings, but without being figurative.

Wassily Kandinsky, Yellow, Red and Blue, 1912.

LEARN TO ANALYSE ART

Brief description of the work

This is an abstract painting made using bright colours. Point, line, plane and colour were used as elements of thecomposition, as there is no subject.

Art analysis

– The work does not refer to any realistic or figurative element, making it abstract art.

– The art elements have been positioned in two separate areas:

	Left side	Right side
Point	Point is used in various areas.
Line	The horizontal segments give the sensation of calm and the vertical ones seem to separate. Some diagonals and curves express movement.	There is more use of irregular curved elements, generating more movement.
Plane	Rectangular planes are superimposed, creating the sensation of depth.	The shapes are combined and superimposed, giving the sensation of depth. The planes formed by the blocks of colour were executed using strong perspective.
Colour	In the centre, warm hues seem to advance towards the viewer; the cool hues in the background seem to move away	The centre is dominated by a strong harmony between complementary colours (blue and red).

Briefly describe the work.

– What elements are depicted? Are they natural or manmade? Is this one of Kandinsky’s Expressionist or abstract works? Why?

Do an art analysis.

– Are the shapes realistic, figurative or abstract? Does the work depict reality or a feeling? hich one?

– Explain how the paint was applied: in patches, points, lines, etc.

– What sensations do the colours convey?

– Is there a sensation of depth? How was it created?

Do your own analysys

Briefly describe the work.

– What elements are depicted? Are they natural or manmade?

Is this one of Kandinsky’s Expressionist or abstract works? Why?

Do an art analysis.

– Are the shapes realistic, figurative or abstract? Does the work depict reality or a feeling? Which one?

– Explain how the paint was applied: in patches, points, lines, etc.

– What sensations do the colours convey?

– Is there a sensation of depth? How was it created?

(Actividad del Libro Art Apreciation - Visual Arts, de SM / Dayton University)