Klänge Pl.16 1913

This is one of Wassily Kandinsky's Klänge prints, meaning 'Sounds'. There's something so direct about printmaking—a carving away to make an image. It's all about simple forms and bold colors. This one is like a stage set, with strange figures and floating shapes. I wonder what kind of stories Kandinsky was trying to tell here. When I look at Kandinsky’s work, I think about music. He wanted his paintings to hit you in the same way music does, stirring up emotions and memories. It's like he’s trying to paint a feeling, not just a picture. He wasn't trying to capture what he saw, but what he felt. There's a kind of freedom in that, don't you think?