Wassily Kandinsky: 1866-1944 a Revolution in Painting (Basic Art) [Paperback]

Hajo Duchting (Author)

Book Description

Series: Basic Art | Publication Date: August 1, 1999

The Russian painter Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944), who later lived in Germany and France, is one of the pioneers of 20th-century art. Nowadays he is regarded as the founder of abstract art and is, moreover, the chief theoretician of this type of painting. Together with Franz Marc and others he founded the group of artists known as the "Blauer Reiter" in Munich. His art then freed itself more and more from the object, eventually culminating in the "First Abstract Watercolour" of 1910. In his theoretical writings Kandinsky repeatedly sought the proximity of music; and just as in music, where the individual notes constitute the medium whose effect stems from harmony and euphony, Kandinsky was aiming for a pure concord of colour through the interplay of various shades. Gauguin had demanded that everything "must be sacrificed to pure colours". Kandinsky was the first to realize this and thus to influence a whole range of artists.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Wassily Kandinsky, a Russian-born painter, became one of the founders of 20th-century abstract art, ultimately moving toward the geometric forms for which he is best known. Some of the more beautiful works included in this title are Several Circles (1926), Hard But Soft (1927), and Graceful Ascent (1934). Readers looking for a good introduction to the works of Kandinsky will be delighted with this volume. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Language Notes

Text: English, French (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 95 pages
• Publisher: Taschen; 2 edition (August 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3822859826
• ISBN-13: 978-3822859827
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #487,834 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #10 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Russia
  • #72 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Arts & Photography > Art > Art History > Regional
  • #94 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Foreign Language Nonfiction > German

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Book is Worth It!, November 12, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kandinsky Cameo (Great Modern Masters) (Hardcover)

This book has excellent images on Kandinsky's work beginning with his representational early works to his abstract later works. The color quality of the prints are good and the information is readable - to the point and not overwhelming like many art books can be. I only wish this book was bigger with more examples of his work. ...A good resource for art educators.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Must buy for any modern art lover, May 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Kandinsky Cameo (Great Modern Masters) (Hardcover)

This book in few pages can describe Kandinsky so well. The style of Kandisky which reflected the developments and strides physics took in first 2 decades of century is shown in his love of planes and geometry.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kandinsky, April 7, 2010

By 

G. Lauricella (Brazil) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kandinsky: The Pioneer of a New Art Form--His Life in Paintings (Paperback)

Excellent Book! It is very informative and well written.The illustrations are great and give deep insight into the artist's life and work.Ordering from the purveyor through Amazon was a breeze as always!I recommend this title to anyone dabbling in art history or with a real interest in examining his marvelous paintings.