Composition vi by vassily kandinsky oil on canvas 195x300 cm russia 20th. Such periods, during which art has no noble champion, during which the true spiritual food is wanting, are periods of retrogression in the spiritual world. Concerning the spiritual in art wassily kandinsky 1866 1944, translated by michael sadler 1888 1957 published in 1911, kandinsky s book compares the spiritual life of humanity to a pyramid the artist has a mission to lead others to the pinnacle with his work. 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. Crucial to an understanding of kandinsky s intentions is on the spiritual in art, the celebrated essay he published in 1911. 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. Written by the famous nonobjective painter wassily kandinsky 18661944, it explains kandinskys own theory of painting and crystallizes the ideas that were influencing many other modern artists of the period. Kandinsky makes a very strong case for internally motivated art.
Concerning the spiritual and the concrete in kandinskys. This book examines the art and writings of wassily kandinsky, who is widely regarded as one of the first artists to produce nonrepresentational paintings. Collection gutenberg contributor project gutenberg language english. Concerning the spiritual in art concerning the spiritual in art v reads the beginning of kandinsky s concerning the spiritual in art. Kandinsky on the spiritual element in art and the three. Wassily kandinsky 18661944 was one of the most influential painters of the twentieth century, and concerning the spiritual in art is universally recognised as an essential document of modernist art theory. On the spiritual in art wassily kandinsky by samzdat issuu. Concerning the spiritual in art by wassily kandinsky free ebook. Immediately download the concerning the spiritual in art summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching concerning the spiritual in art. A cry against all that is bogus or a deadend in art the bourgeoiscurrying. The group of which he is a member includes painters, poets, musicians, dramatists, critics, all working to the same end the expression of the soul of nature and humanity, or, as kandinsky terms it, the innerer klang. I was interested in the shapes and symbols he aligned his analysis of humanity, religion and what he considers a more broad. Concerning the spiritual in art wassily kandinsky on.
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. Revisiting the spiritual in art an online symposium commemorating the centennial of the publication of wassily kandinskys classic text, on the spiritual in art the following is a transcript of the conference, which was a moderated blog that ran from march. Concerning the spiritual in art with vassily kandinsky. Oct 14, 20 librivox recording of concerning the spiritual in art by wassily kandinsky. Wassily kandinsky concerning the spiritual in art translated. Review of kandinsky s concerning the spiritual in art 1911 first posted on amazon, april 2010. 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. Concerning the spiritual in art free download public library an. Concerning the spiritual in art dover publications. 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 contemporaries to free their work from traditional bonds. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app.
Concerning spiritual art painting particular 1912 abebooks. Concerning the spiritual and the concrete in kandinskys art. 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. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion on concerning th e spiritual in art by wassily kandinsky. Kandinsky believed that art had a duty to be spiritual in nature, an expression of inner need, as he came to call it. Kandinskys book concerning the spiritual in art 1910 and point and line to plane 1926 echoed this. Thus, every period of culture produ ces its own art, whic h ca n never be repeated. The triangle is slowlynearly imperceptiblymoving forward. He called art for arts sake a vain squandering of artistic power p, 3.
Kandinsky s provocative thoughts on color theory and the nature of art. Concerning the spiritual in art library of congress classification. For kandinsky, art is a kind of spiritual anchor when all other certitudes of life are unhinged by social and cultural upheaval. Concerning the spiritual in art by wassily kandinsky, 97804862341, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. It follows that each period of culture produces an art of its own which can never be repeated. Introduction every work of art is the child of its time, often it is the mother of our emotions. 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.
Excerpted from concerning the spiritual in art by wassily kandinsky, m. Kandinsky 1910 improvisation viiibright colors, houses on hillfigure with sword. In this remarkable book, anticipating the spiritual turningpoint kandinsky reflects on his understanding of progress in this direction. It is a spiritual pyramid, advancing and ascending slowly even if it sometimes appears immobile. Wassily kandinsky 18661944 published in 1911, kandinsky s book compares the spiritual life of humanity to a pyramid the artist has a mission to lead others to the pinnacle with his work. Wassily kandinsky, concerning the spiritual in art new york. Mar 01, 2004 concerning the spiritual in art by wassily kandinsky. Wassily kandinsky, from concerning the spiritual in art 1912. This was my initial response to reading kandinsky s book. Concerning the spiritual in art by wassily kandinsky alibris.
Kathleen hall theosophy and the emergence of modern abstract art quest 90. Librivox recording of concerning the spiritual in art by wassily kandinsky. 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. Sadler, offers additional explanation of kandinskys art and theories, while a new preface by richard stratton discusses kandinskys career as a whole and the impact of the book. Listen to unlimited audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and android. The point of the pyramid is those few, great artists. Read in english by expatriate published in 1911, kandinsky s book compares the spiritual life of humanity to a pyramid the artist has a mission to lead others to the pinnacle with his work. Book description dover publications june 1977, 1977.
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. Concerning the spiritual in art by kandinsky, wassily, 18661944. Paying homage to wassily kandinsky s influential book, on the spiritual in art, robert lipsey asserts that twentiethcentury art embodies a stronger and wiser spirituality than we have fully acknowledged. Concerning the spiritual in art by wassily kandinsky free. Any attempt to give new life to the artistic principles of the past can at best only result in a work of. Kandinsky is generally credited as the pioneer of abstract art. Kandinskys concerning the spiritual in art is one, and probably to our own shame, speaks as loudly to us today as it did to the artists contemporaries. Written by the famous nonobjective painter wassily kandinsky 1866.
Wassily kandinsky excerpt from concerning the spiritual in. Concerning the spiritual in art kandinsky, wassily. The author is one of the leaders of the new art movement in munich. Review of kandinskys concerning the spiritual in art 1911. Kandinsky wrote concerning the spiritual in art in 1912, the book argued that the impact of colour on the viewer could be twofold. 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. Wassily kandinsky, from concerning the spiritual in art 1912 a. Concerning the spiritual in art by wassily kandinsky.
Listen to concerning the spiritual in art by wassily kandinsky, librivox community for free with a 30 day free trial. 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. Concerning the spiritual in art and painting in particular 1912 the documents of modern art, vol. Wassily kandinsky concerning the spiritual in art, 1910. Kandinsky, the spiritual in art by wassily kandinsky.
Concerning the spiritual in art by kandinsky, wassily on apple. Concerning the spiritual in art was both his call to artists to meet their obligation to humanity and his attempt to define and explain color and. 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. Project gutenberg offers 60,451 free ebooks to download. 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 terms it, the innerer klang. This text is in the public domain and may be freely reproduced. Art is the expression of the spiritual atmosphere of a certain period. Editions of concerning the spiritual in art by wassily kandinsky. Thus, every period of culture produces its own art, which can never be repeated. I posted it to amazon on april 2010 which provided a quickandeasy platform from which to explore the idea of the conference alastair mcintosh. 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. Kandinsky wrote concerning the spiritual in arthis art is meant to be spiritualan attempt to go beyond appearancesdraws correlations between meanings and colors and colors and sounds. Project gutenberg offers 61,958 free ebooks to download.
It lays out the tenets of painting as he saw them and. Wassily kandinsky concerning the spiritual in art new york. Wassily kandinsky 18661944 published in 1911, kandinskys book compares the spiritual life of humanity to a pyramid the artist has a mission to lead others to the pinnacle with his work. Wassily wassilyevich kandinsky was a russian painter and art theorist. Letting ones eyes wander over a palette laid out with colors has two main results. Such art does not help the forward movement, but hinders it, dragging back those who are striving to press onward, and spreading pestilence abroad.
Along with his own groundbreaking paintings, this book had a tremendous impact on the development of modern art. Concerning the spiritual in art work by kandinsky britannica. 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. He wrote a hugely influential book, concerning the spiritual in art, and taught at the bauhaus. 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. Mar 24, 2017 kandinsky i spy with my little eye english version of the official movie for exhibition 2010 duration. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion on concerning the spiritual in art by wassily kandinsky. 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.
Its form pertaining to its characteristic features evolves from the culture that inspires artistic expression. The farther down one goes, the larger, broader, more extensive, and deeper become the divisions of the triangle. Published in 1911, kandinskys book compares the spiritual life of humanity to a pyramid the artist has a mission to lead others to the pinnacle with his work. Concerning the spiritual in art by wassily kandinsky and. Kandinsky i spy with my little eye english version of the official movie for exhibition 2010 duration. Sadler, offers additional explanation of kandinsky s art and theories, while a new preface by richard stratton discusses kandinsky s career as a whole and the impact of the book. This was my initial response to reading kandinskys book.
Kandinsky on the spiritual element in art and the three responsibilities. Crucial to an understanding of kandinskys intentions is on the spiritual in art, the celebrated essay he published in 1911. Movement the spiritual life can be accurately represented by a diagram of a large acute triangle divided into unequal parts, with the most acute and smallest division at the top. But perhaps the greatest meditation on how art serves the soul came more than a century earlier, in 1910, when legendary russian painter and art theorist wassily kandinsky december 16, 1866december, 1944 published concerning the spiritual in art free download public library an exploration of the deepest and most authentic. Though concerning th e spiritual in art was written some ten years prior, the book may as well be about the explorations in artworks such as these. Read in english by expatriate published in 1911, kandinskys book compares the spiritual life of humanity to a pyramid the artist has a mission to lead others to the pinnacle with his work. Sadler translation, originally published in 1914 as the art of spiritual harmony. 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. Your music, tv shows, movies, podcasts, and audiobooks will transfer automatically to the apple music, apple tv, apple podcasts, and apple books apps where youll still have access to your favorite itunes features, including purchases, rentals, and imports. Wassily kandinsky, from concerning the spiritual in art. Editions of concerning the spiritual in art by wassily. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg.