Blick auf Moskau 1915

Editor: We’re looking at Wassily Kandinsky's "Blick auf Moskau," or "View of Moscow," painted in 1915. It’s watercolor and oil on canvas, and it strikes me as…dreamlike. The colors are vibrant, yet the scene feels softened, almost like a memory. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Oh, it’s more than just a view, isn’t it? For me, Kandinsky captures the *feeling* of Moscow. It's Moscow through the kaleidoscope of his soul! Notice how the recognizable landmarks melt into abstract forms? It’s like he's trying to depict not just what he sees, but how the city *resonates* within him. He was moving towards total abstraction then… almost like notes in a melody that suggest rather than define. What sort of feelings do the colors evoke in you? Editor: Happiness, maybe? The blues and greens feel peaceful, and even the darker shades don’t feel oppressive. I love the loose brushstrokes – the image shimmers. But I wouldn’t necessarily know it was Moscow without the title. Curator: Exactly! And that’s key. It's not *about* the perfect representation. Look at the brushstrokes like emotional outbursts. You feel the spiritual and the physical melding in his memory of that vista, don't you? He bends reality. Did you know that at this time, Kandinsky was contemplating abandoning art altogether? This vista seems like he captures that internal struggle on a page with one deep look backwards before facing forwards. Editor: No, I didn’t! So maybe that accounts for the feeling that’s so deeply etched here… a pivotal moment. Wow. It really does feel so poignant now. Curator: Isn’t it amazing how knowing a little context can completely change how you experience a piece? Editor: Absolutely. It feels much richer now – it's like Moscow is saying goodbye to Kandinsky! Thank you!