A thoughtful and beautifully written reflection on Kandinsky’s attempt to give form to what cannot be seen directly. I especially liked how the piece treats abstraction not as decoration or theory, but as a serious search for inner reality, emotion, and spiritual presence. It captures very well why Kandinsky still feels so modern: his art turns the invisible into something intensely felt. Kandinsky’s own writing and later commentary on his work are strongly tied to the spiritual, inner necessity, and making the invisible perceptible.
A great musical piece of writing, which immersed me in it entirely.for a long time I was clueless about kandinsky's paintings.but now, thanks to you,I might have found it.
I found the core idea really strong—this notion that Kandinsky wasn’t removing meaning, but actually trying to express something deeper and invisible. That framing feels accurate and refreshing, especially since most people misunderstand abstraction as random or decorative.
I’ve been curious about Kandinsky ever since my undergraduate days, but there were few books in Korea that explained him properly, and they were full of overly complicated jargon (in fact, I suspect even the authors who wrote them wouldn’t fully understand their own words).
Today’s post might just offer some clues as to how we can approach abstract art.
I’m endlessly fascinated by Kandinsky. Out of curiosity, is this translation of colours your own invention, or is it based on his book? I’ve never read it, but I know it was a formative text for O'Keeffe, for example
The colour analogies and translations are all references to his book. The letter to the mother, though, was a rhetorical device, and, in my opinion, very fitting for explaining the artist's path, given how and when he fully embraced art.
Great essay! I knew that Skriabin worked on the connection between music and color, but with his passing at the psychiatric hospital, the Russian composers didn't continue these experiments. But Kandinsky was very serious in his work on this theme. You think, you know the painter, looking at his painting. Kandinsky was a serious researcher in painting. Blue color, e. g., light blue color = flute; dark blue = cello; very dark blue = double-bass, organ, and so on. That is why you write so interestingly about the symphonies of his painting. Thank you.
Oh, thank you. You inspired me to find Kandinsky on my bookshelves and find out that he was a serious thinker and theorist of painting. Usually, when I wrote in my comment using "you," I meant the collective "we" as common fans of art as I am, not professionals, as you are. That is why we are grateful to you for opening our eyes to the beauty of art.
It takes a mind of both passion and craziness—don’t you think? To see sound, to feel sprit in color. To be elevated by what began as paint and canvas… and by his hand became sublime.
I have hesitated to take him on. You’ve achieved a marvelous capture in words of an elusive manifestation. Bravo!
A thoughtful and beautifully written reflection on Kandinsky’s attempt to give form to what cannot be seen directly. I especially liked how the piece treats abstraction not as decoration or theory, but as a serious search for inner reality, emotion, and spiritual presence. It captures very well why Kandinsky still feels so modern: his art turns the invisible into something intensely felt. Kandinsky’s own writing and later commentary on his work are strongly tied to the spiritual, inner necessity, and making the invisible perceptible.
A great musical piece of writing, which immersed me in it entirely.for a long time I was clueless about kandinsky's paintings.but now, thanks to you,I might have found it.
I found the core idea really strong—this notion that Kandinsky wasn’t removing meaning, but actually trying to express something deeper and invisible. That framing feels accurate and refreshing, especially since most people misunderstand abstraction as random or decorative.
Incredible article!! Wow speechless
I’ve been curious about Kandinsky ever since my undergraduate days, but there were few books in Korea that explained him properly, and they were full of overly complicated jargon (in fact, I suspect even the authors who wrote them wouldn’t fully understand their own words).
Today’s post might just offer some clues as to how we can approach abstract art.
I really enjoyed reading it.
Thank you so much!
I’m endlessly fascinated by Kandinsky. Out of curiosity, is this translation of colours your own invention, or is it based on his book? I’ve never read it, but I know it was a formative text for O'Keeffe, for example
The colour analogies and translations are all references to his book. The letter to the mother, though, was a rhetorical device, and, in my opinion, very fitting for explaining the artist's path, given how and when he fully embraced art.
I was wondering about this letter ;)) really well done!
Great essay! I knew that Skriabin worked on the connection between music and color, but with his passing at the psychiatric hospital, the Russian composers didn't continue these experiments. But Kandinsky was very serious in his work on this theme. You think, you know the painter, looking at his painting. Kandinsky was a serious researcher in painting. Blue color, e. g., light blue color = flute; dark blue = cello; very dark blue = double-bass, organ, and so on. That is why you write so interestingly about the symphonies of his painting. Thank you.
Thank you, Larisa
Oh, thank you. You inspired me to find Kandinsky on my bookshelves and find out that he was a serious thinker and theorist of painting. Usually, when I wrote in my comment using "you," I meant the collective "we" as common fans of art as I am, not professionals, as you are. That is why we are grateful to you for opening our eyes to the beauty of art.
He dared to go where no artist had gone before.
It takes a mind of both passion and craziness—don’t you think? To see sound, to feel sprit in color. To be elevated by what began as paint and canvas… and by his hand became sublime.
I have hesitated to take him on. You’ve achieved a marvelous capture in words of an elusive manifestation. Bravo!
Thank you so much. Yes it takes indeed a mix of passion and craziness to explore the realm of the soul as he did.
Shout out to Gertrude Grunow for helping him get a handle on his synesthesia ♥️
Yes!!!
👁️🧠👁️