The artist must lead the layman to the top of this pyramid through the soulful exercise of art. Painting was, above all, deeply spiritual for kandinsky. Contents page foreword to first original edition 6 foreword to second original edition 7 foreword to the 1946 newyork edition ofwassily kandinslcys on the spiritual in art 8 ageneral i introduction 9 ii the movement 15 iii the spiritual turningpoint 21 iv the pyramid 34 bpainting v the effect of colour 39 vi the language of form and colour 44 vii theory 79 viii artand artists 91. Concerning the spiritual in art 1911 a pioneering work in the movement to free art from its traditional bonds to material reality, this book is one of the most important documents in the history of modern art. He begins by considering art as a spiritual antidote to the values of materialism and introduces the notion of stimmung, an almost untranslatable concept best explained as the essential. Kandinsky differentiates between the superficial pleasure art inspires and the inner resonance created when art is considered attentively and allowed to touch the soul. Concerning the spiritual in art dover fine art, history. First complete english translation, with four full colour page reproductions, woodcuts and half tones see other formats.
To me, kandinsky is the kandinsky from the bauhaus period, when his paintings were dominated by abstract compositions comprising lines, circles, triangles, and bold colours. The group of which he is a member includes painters, poets, musicians, dramatists, critics, all working to the same endthe expression of the soul of nature and humanity, or, as kandinsky. It follows that each period of culture produces an art of its own which can never be repeated. Though concerning the spiritual in art was written some ten years prior, the book may as well be about the explorations in artworks such as these. He called art for art s sake a vain squandering of artistic power. Kandinsky wrote concerning the spiritual in art in 1912, the book argued that the impact of colour on the viewer could be twofold. Kandinsky anticipates the emergence of abstract art as the purest form of influence on the human soul, and views the future optimistically, foretelling the upcoming emergences of the epoch of great spirituality. Kandinsky was also an accomplished musician and believed. Here is a collection, maybe the most complete you will find, of his writings on art and spirituality. On the spiritual in art is the first complete english translation of kandinskys text. Kandinsky believed that art had a duty to be spiritual in nature, an expression of inner need, as he came to call it. Every work of art is the child of its age and, in many cases, the mother of our emotions. Kandinsky s philosophy about spiritual life and art is founded on the idea of a threetiered triangle containing all of humanity, with the sections descending from top down, smallest to largest. About painting is an early modernist art theory written by wassily kandinsky in 1910.
Concerning the spiritual in art by wassily kandinsky goodreads. Concerning the spiritual in art by wassily kandinsky free ebook. Kandinsky s paintings are among the most expensive at international auctions today, but his writings are often overlooked. Art is a form of nourishment of consciousness, the spirit, 31yearold. Kandinsky on the spiritual element in art and the three. Wassily kandinsky paintings, bio, ideas theartstory. Many consider him to be the pioneer of the abstract art movement. The author is one of the leaders of the new art movement in munich. The point of the pyramid is occupied by few great artists. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. During his career, as a pioneer of abstract art, kandinsky developed an important theoretical body of written work. On the spiritual in art wassily kandinsky by samzdat issuu. But in tracing spiritual relationship only inner meaning must be taken into account.
In this remarkable book, anticipating the spiritual turningpoint kandinsky reflects on his understanding of progress in this. Kandinsky in his artist quotes on painting, color and line. When religion, science and morality are shaken and when the outer supports threaten to fall, man turns his gaze from externals in on to himself. Michael sadleir a pioneering work in the movement to free art from its traditional bonds to material reality, this book is one of the most important documents in the history of modern art. His publication of concerning the spiritual in art in 1910 some quotes you find from this text had a huge impact on other artists in westeurope and the u. For kandinsky, the artist is like a prophet, able to see farther, think more deeply, and feel more keenly than ordinary people. Pioneering work by the great modernist painter, considered by many to be the father of abstract art and a leader in the movement to free art from traditional bonds. As he stated in concerning the spiritual in art see below, kandinsky felt that an authentic artist creating art from an. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion on concerning the spiritual in art by wassily kandinsky. He is not only on the track of an art more purely spiritual than was concei. Kandinsky is generally credited as the pioneer of abstract art.
In his 1912 essay concerning the spiritual in art on which the title of the show is based he. Painting is an art, and art is not vague production, transitory and isolated, but a power which be directed to the improvement and refinement of the human. Only a mind with an extraordinary capacity for abstraction, like that of wassily kandinsky 18661944, could possibly answer. Born in russia in 1866, kandinsky was a pioneer of the abstract, who used concerning the spiritual in art to argue for the transcendental importance of his vocation. Kandinsky, the spiritual in art by wassily kandinsky. Buy concerning the spiritual in art dover fine art, history of art revised edition by kandinsky, wassily isbn.
Kandinsky, like other artists at the end of the 19th century, saw art as a new religion. Kandinskys philosophy about spiritual life and art is founded on the idea of a threetiered triangle containing all of humanity, with the sections descending from top down, smallest to largest. Music was a very inspiring source for him in creating his art. Thus, every period of culture produ ces its own art, whic h ca n never be repeated. It requires a lot of work and implies a great responsibility of both artist and viewer. In his first treatise, concerning the spiritual in art, he had emphasized in particular the supposed expressiveness of colours, comparing yellow, for example, to the aggressive, allegedly earthly sound of a trumpet and comparing blue to the allegedly heavenly sound of the pipe organ. The bottom segment is the widest and, as one approaches the apex, they get more and more narrow, with spirituality increasing with successively higher levels. Wassily kandinsky was a russianfrench abstract painter, associated with the expressionism art movement.
Written by the famous nonobjective painter wassily kandinsky 18661944, it explains kandinsky s own theory of painting and. Sadler translation, originally published in 1914 as the art of spiritual harmony. A pioneering work in the movement to free art from its traditional bonds to material reality, this book is one of the most important documents in the history of modern art. Read concerning the spiritual in art buy concerning the spiritual in art.
By wassily kandinsky download books, sacred, spiritual. Concerning the spiritual in art dover publications. This book was both his call to artists to meet their obligation to humanity and his attempt to define and explain color and form in its relation to. Concerning the spiritual in art part 1, wassily kandinsky. The man is a preacher and a psychologist, universal by his very unorthodoxy, fundamental because he goes deeper than civilization. Kandinsky viewed nonobjective, abstract art as the ideal visual mode to express the inner. Kandinsky considers art a kind of spiritual anchor when all other certitudes of life are unhinged by social and cultural upheaval. Concerning the spiritual in art and painting in particular. The following interview is a followup to a conference in govan, scotland that grapples with class, spirituality, art and kandinsky in the 100th anniversary of concerning the spiritual in art. Concerning the spiritual in art in this remarkable book, anticipating the spiritual turningpoint kandinsky reflects on his understanding of progress in this direction. The first part, called about general aesthetic, issues a call for a spiritual revolution in painting that will let artists express their own inner lives in abstract, nonmaterial terms. It is a spiritual pyramid, advancing and ascending slowly even if it sometimes appears immobile.
Wassily wassilyevich kandinsky was a russian painter and art. He sought to convey profound spirituality and the depth of human emotion through a universal visual language of abstract forms and colors that transcended cultural and physical boundaries. This text is in the public domain and may be freely reproduced. Concerning the spiritual in art by wassily kandinsky. Among the most outstanding texts are concerning the spiritual in art 1911 and point and line to plane.
Wassily kandinsky excerpt from concerning the spiritual in. Wassily kandinsky concerning the spiritual in art, 1910. The triangle is slowlynearly imperceptiblymoving forward. The spiritual writings of wassily kandinsky free pdf ebook. In 1911, kandinsky published concerning the spiritual in art, a short book that explored his feelings about color and its effect on human emotions. Kandinsky sees the spiritual life of humanity as a pyramid. Concerning the spiritual in art audiobook by wassily.
Wassily kandinsky concerning the spiritual in art translated by. Concerning the spiritual in art part 1 wassily kandinsky, 1910. Perhaps the greatest meditation on how art serves the soul came in 1910, when russian painter and art theorist wassily kandinsky published the art of spiritual harmony, an exploration of the deepest and most authentic motives for making art a pioneering work in the movement to free art from its traditional bonds to material reality is one of the most important documents in the history of. Kandinskys spiritual triangle represents a societal and personal progression from solely material to spiritual concerns where the primary movement is influenced by artists and their work. Kandinsky compares the spiritual life of humanity to a pyramidthe artist has a mission to lead others to the pinnacle with his work. Kandinsky s words, penned in the period between the industrial revolution and the rise of the consumer society, ring with remarkable poignancy today. Wassily kandinsky excerpt from concerning the spiritual in art, 19111 every work of art is th e child of its tim e, often it is the mother of our emotions. The artist is the hand that plays, touching one key or another, to cause vibrations in the soul. Efforts to revive the art principles of the past will at. First complete english translation, with four full colour page reproductions, woodcuts and half tones by kandinsky, wassily, 18661944.
Art is the expression of the spiritual atmosphere of a certain period. Wassily wassilyevich kandinsky 16th december 1866th december 1944 was a russian abstract painter and art theorist. Sometimes, perhaps frequently, a similarity of outward form will appear. Along with his own groundbreaking paintings, this book had a tremendous impact on the development of modern art.
Kandinsky s provocative thoughts on color theory and the nature of art. This is not a process that would happen automatically. Wassily wassilyevich kandinsky was born in moscow on december 16, 1866, to welleducated, upperclass parents. Wassily kandinsky, a russianborn artist, was one of the first creators of pure abstraction in modern painting. Painting is an art, and art is not vague production, transitory and isolated, but a power which be directed to the improvement and refinement of the human soul to, in fact, the raising of the spiritual triangle p. The triangle is slowlynearly imperceptiblymoving forward and upward, towards a higher level of enlightenment. Concerning the spiritual in art is a short book more like an extended essay by kandinsky, detailing his personal philosophy of art. Colour is the keyboard, the eyes are the harmonies, the soul is the piano with many strings. In 1911, modernist painter wassily kandinsky published concerning the spiritual in art, a treatise on the meaning of modern art and a challenge to his. Revisiting the spiritual in art an online symposium commemorating the centennial of the publication of wassily kandinsky s classic text, on the spiritual in art the following is a transcript of the conference, which was a moderated blog that ran from march 30 th through april 8, 2011, at. Its form pertaining to its characteristic features evolves from the culture that inspires artistic expression. Wassily kandinsky, russian in full vasily vasilyevich kandinsky, born december 4 december 16, new style, 1866, moscow, russiadied december, 1944, neuillysurseine, france, russianborn artist, one of the first creators of pure abstraction in modern painting. Concerning the spiritual in art with vassily kandinsky. Kandinsky describes a spiritual triangle as one which is divided into unequal horizontal segments.
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