Farbstudie mit Rauten 1913

Editor: Here we have Kandinsky’s “Color Study, Squares with Concentric Circles” from 1913, rendered in watercolor. The pattern is very lively! What do you see in this work beyond the geometric pattern? Curator: Well, consider the historical moment. It's 1913, a period of intense societal transformation and upheaval across Europe, especially preceding World War I. Kandinsky, deeply engaged with avant-garde movements, was attempting to develop a visual language that could express the inner, spiritual realm, liberating art from mere representation. Can you see how the fracturing of form and vibrant use of colour challenge conventional expectations of visual harmony and representation? Editor: Yes, it feels like a deliberate break from the past, an attempt to find new meaning through pure form and color. Is there a connection between this search for the spiritual and the sociopolitical context of the time? Curator: Absolutely. Many artists felt a profound sense of alienation and disillusionment with the established order, particularly with its embrace of materialism and industrialization. Kandinsky sought a utopian vision through art, an alternative means of communication. These colour planes have emancipatory implications. What narratives might emerge if we foregrounded marginalized experiences in thinking about these artistic experimentations? Editor: That’s a powerful point. I never thought about this level of abstraction being related to the societal feeling. Curator: And isn't that exciting? Considering this work with that lens makes us rethink art history. Thinking about these colours outside the framework of the supposed “masters” might also suggest the power of art to challenge dominant narratives, to envision new futures. Editor: I see now how unlocking abstraction helps connect the spiritual and political—the interior and exterior world. Thank you.