Treppe zum Schloss 1909

Wassily Kandinsky made ‘Treppe zum Schloss’ with oil on cardboard, using a brush to apply thick layers of paint. Look at the distinct marks, the way he loaded up the brush and pressed it to the surface. Oil paint gave Kandinsky the freedom to build up colors and textures, allowing light to play across the composition. Unlike the smooth finish valued by academic painters, here the materiality of the paint itself is celebrated. The process gives ‘Treppe zum Schloss’ its emotional depth. Kandinsky wasn't just representing a scene; he was imbuing it with a certain energy. The labor-intensive process of painting, with its repeated gestures and careful attention to detail, becomes a form of expression in itself. This approach challenged the traditional hierarchy of art, which often favored the idea over the execution. Kandinsky showed that the materials and methods of making are just as important as the subject matter.