Development 1926

Wassily Kandinsky made this small oil painting, Development, and you can really see how he’s letting the process lead the way. It’s like he started with a basic idea, then just let the colors and shapes do their thing. The surface has this cool, almost chalky texture, which makes the colors feel soft, even the strong reds and yellows. Take a look at that sunrise, or is it a sunset? See how it’s not just a flat circle, but has these fuzzy edges? It’s like Kandinsky was exploring how light itself can be a shape. That little cross with the wild firework display of black brushstrokes nearby feels like it's a sign post in the painting. It's a tiny area, but it's got this huge energy. Kandinsky’s work is always about pushing boundaries, like you see in the work of Hilma af Klint. He’s not trying to paint something real, but something felt. For him, art was about finding new ways to see and experience the world, one brushstroke at a time.