Odessa. Port 1898

Wassily Kandinsky made ‘Odessa. Port’ using oil paint on canvas. These are traditional art materials, of course. Look closely, and you’ll see that the way Kandinsky applied the paint is crucial to the image's impact. The thick brushstrokes and layering create a sense of depth and movement, mirroring the dynamic energy of a bustling port. You can almost feel the humidity in the air. More than this, though, the painting is inextricably linked to the processes it represents. Ports are all about labour, industry, and commerce. Consider the sheer amount of work required to build and maintain the ships depicted here, and the systems of trade that they enabled. It is this engagement with the messy reality of industrial life that gives the painting its true substance. By focusing on the materiality and making of both the painting and its subject, we can gain a deeper appreciation for Kandinsky's work, and its connection to the wider world.