Study for autumn 1909

Wassily Kandinsky created this oil study, "Study for Autumn," evoking more than just a season; it captures a profound shift in perception. See how the mountain, a universal symbol of steadfastness and aspiration, is here rendered in bold, unsettling colors. Recall the medieval concept of the "axis mundi", where mountains were seen as the meeting point between the earthly and divine realms. But Kandinsky's mountain is not static, it is destabilized by contrasting colors, suggesting an internal, psychological landscape rather than a physical one. Consider the zig-zag motif along the horizon line, often found in tribal art to represent the unpredictable forces of nature or the spirit world. Here, it appears to denote a similar sense of agitation. This painting stirs a deep, primeval recognition. Kandinsky taps into our collective memory, using color and form to unleash emotions tied to seasonal change and the subconscious awareness of nature's cyclical decay. Such non-objective forms allow the mind to wander through time and space, tracing the emotional trajectory of symbols as they reappear in varying guises throughout human history.