Kallmünz – Gabriele Münter painting I 1903

Wassily Kandinsky made this oil painting, Kallmünz – Gabriele Münter painting I, with quick, energetic strokes. Just look at how he’s built up the surface! The colors are so vibrant, almost playful, but there’s a seriousness to the way he’s really thinking through the process. You can practically feel the texture of the paint. It’s thick in places, like the bright green of the grass, and thinner in others, allowing the canvas to peek through. See that figure in the blue dress? Kandinsky uses these vertical strokes to create this really beautiful shimmering effect, almost like she’s part of the landscape. It’s amazing how he uses that dress to echo the colors in the buildings and water. Kandinsky’s interest in capturing fleeting moments reminds me of the Impressionists, but he pushes further, exploring the emotional resonance of color and form. It’s like he’s not just painting what he sees, but what he feels. That’s something he really developed later in his more abstract work.