Wassily Kandinsky ( ) ( )

Kandinsky was a Russian painter, whose exploration of abstraction made him one of the most important innovators of modern art.

After a trip to Paris in 1909, where he saw, and was impressed by the works of the fauves and postimpressionists, his paintings became more highly colored and loosely organized. Fauves

Van Gogh (Postimpressionist)

In 1911, along with Franz Marc and other German expressionists, Kandinsky formed a group called The Blue Rider. He produced both abstract and figurative works during this period, all of which were characterized by brilliant colors and complex patterns.

Around 1913 he began working on paintings that came to be considered the first totally abstract works in modern art; they made no reference to objects of the physical world and were inspired by music.

The Blue Riders believed that colors, Shapes and forms were equivalent to sounds and music, and sought to create color harmonies. The artists who took part in The Blue Rider were considered to be the pioneers of Abstract art or abstract expressionism. Their work promoted individual expression and broke free from any artistic restraints.

After World War I ( ), Kandinsky's abstractions became increasingly geometric in form, as he abandoned his earlier fluid style in favor of sharply etched outlines and clear patterns. Many works were comprised solely of lines, circles, arcs, and other simple geometric shapes.

Kandinsky was one of the most influential artists of his generation. As one of the first explorers of "pure“ abstraction, Kandinsky paved the way for abstract expressionism.