Dominant curve 1936

Wassily Kandinsky made this oil on canvas, Dominant Curve, in the first half of the twentieth century. Its swirling forms and vibrant colours reject naturalistic representation in favour of pure abstraction, aiming to express spiritual and emotional states directly. Kandinsky was a key figure in the development of abstract art in Europe. Born in Russia, he was part of the cultural milieu that saw the rise of the Bolsheviks. After the Russian Revolution, he embraced a utopian vision, teaching at the Bauhaus school in Germany. However, his radical ideas about art's potential to transform society clashed with the growing conservatism, and the rise of the Nazi party forced the closure of the Bauhaus in 1933. "Dominant Curve" embodies the optimism and utopianism that characterized early abstract art, but also reflects the turmoil and social upheaval of the era. Detailed archival research into Kandinsky's writings, exhibition records, and the cultural debates of his time helps us understand his artistic choices in relation to the world around him.