Kandinsky: Watercolors and Drawings (Art & Design) [Hardcover]

Vivian Endicott Barnett (Author), Armin Zweite (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

One of the first artists to break away from figurative art to abstractionism, Kandinsky (1866-1914) is considered by many to be the father of modern art. While his paintings are well known and widely studied, it was in watercolors that Kandinsky first began to explore the possibilities of pure abstraction. Nearly 200 rarely seen gems are highlighted here, ranging from vibrantly arresting works of the 1910s to dramatic works on dark backgrounds from the last years of his life. The essays concentrate on Kandinsky's early career, on his circle of colleagues, on crucial phases of his development (Phalanx, Neue Kunstlervereinigung, Blue Rider, Bauhaus), and on the myriad allusions to recognizable objects and creatures that pervade his oeuvre. The superbly reproduced illustrations (174 in color, 69 in black and white) will delight Kandinsky enthusiasts. An expensive but important choice for modern research collections.
- Russell T. Clement, Brigham Young Univ. Lib., Provo, Ut.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

Product Details

• Hardcover: 236 pages
• Publisher: Prestel Pub; illustrated edition edition (April 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3791311840
• ISBN-13: 978-3791311845
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,192,338 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional and illuminating collection, August 4, 2007

By 

Aisling D'Art "artist and author" (Portsmouth, NH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kandinsky: Watercolors and Drawings (Art & Design) (Hardcover)

This book is a must-read for Kandinsky enthusiasts. It's also a must-read for anyone who's confused by some of Kandinsky's unstructured, semi-representational works.

I was one of the latter. I love Kandinsky's early, representational work. His eye for color and balance almost sing in his later structured, geometric works. But, the in-between works baffled me until I studied this book.

I'm delighted with the chapter by Armin Zweite, "Free the Line for the Inner Sound." It explains a tremendous amount in the illustrations and discussion related to Small Pleasures and its forerunner, the glass painting called With Sun.

Once I started comparing their composition and design elements to many of Kandinsky's later works, I realized that he used these same themes over & over again. He was exhausting the form of his expression, rather than constantly looking for new subjects.

When I understood that, far more of Kandinsky's work made sense to me. And, it opened doors for my own artwork.

Although it's important to study Kandinsky's entire body of work, including his oil paintings, this book is a vital resource for anyone interested in Kandinsky's art and philosophies.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!!, March 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Kandinsky: Watercolors and Drawings (Art & Design) (Hardcover)

The definitive collection! A must for any fan