The cow 1910

Kandinsky made this painting, using oil on canvas, and what strikes me is how he’s taken a common subject, like a cow, and turned it into something almost otherworldly through his vibrant use of color and bold shapes. Looking at how he's built up the layers, I can almost feel the energy of his brushstrokes. There’s this playful tension between representation and abstraction. Like he's inviting us to see beyond the surface, to find the essence of the cow, or maybe even the idea of ‘cowness’. The way he applies the paint, thick in some areas and thin in others, creates a dynamic surface. It’s like he’s building a world, not just depicting one. I imagine him experimenting, pushing the boundaries of what a painting could be, and in doing so, challenging us to expand our own ways of seeing. It's so inspiring to witness the conversation between artists across time, how they inspire and challenge each other. This piece reminds us that painting is an ongoing exploration, a way of thinking and feeling through the world, where ambiguity and uncertainty are not weaknesses, but strengths.