Rotterdam sun 1906

Wassily Kandinsky made this oil painting, Rotterdam Sun, with short, choppy brushstrokes that give the impression of a city viewed through rippling water. Up close, you can see how the paint is applied in thick daubs, almost like mosaic tiles. It’s really physical, this painting – you can feel Kandinsky’s hand moving across the canvas, building up the image bit by bit. Look at the way the light reflects off the water. Notice how he captures the movement and energy of the port with such simple, direct marks. The whole thing feels kind of unstable. Kandinsky was influenced by Monet, but he was also moving toward something else entirely. You can see his later, more abstract works taking shape in the hints of color and form here. Like all great art, it feels like a conversation, not a declaration.