Succession

Wassily Kandinsky's deep intellectual exploration of art and his quest for Abstract Expression profoundly revolutionized early 20th-century art. Marcel Duchamp, writing in 1943, described Kandinsky's later work as “a clear transfer of thought on canvas,” highlighting his transformation of pictorial space into a pure white plane where signs and symbols float. In contrast, Kandinsky's friend Jean Arp saw his late work as a celebration of life and growth, stating, “His work is aglow with spiritual reality… Things blossom, sparkle, ripple in his paintings and poems. They speak of old blood and young stones.”

Succession exemplifies Kandinsky's late creative surge. At first glance, the painting reflects his ongoing fascination with natural history and scientific illustrations—evoking images of embryos, amoebas, and invertebrates. A closer look, however, reveals a world of fantastical creatures, shapes, and symbols that dance across four horizontal fields, reminiscent of musical notation.

P.S. Here are 5 iconic abstract paintings by Wassily Kandinsky. Do you know all of them? For more stories on Kandinsky, see the articles below.

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