Large Study on a Mural for Edwin R. Campbell 1914

Wassily Kandinsky made this abstract study for a mural with oil on canvas. Look at how he throws the paint down, as if he’s creating a jazzy improvisation. The surface is alive with color, from the blues to the yellows and the reds that create a sense of musical rhythm. Notice the texture, the layers of pigment, thick in some places and thin in others, almost like he’s trying to capture a fleeting emotion or a burst of energy. I love how some areas are carefully articulated with small brushes and others more gestural, using confident, broad strokes. Take the black splatters near the top: these feel intuitive and spontaneous, like the flick of a wrist sending the paint in all directions. Kandinsky’s move toward pure abstraction was a real breakthrough, and this study really shows how he pushed the boundaries of what painting could be. You can see how his later work, like "Composition X", continue this exploration of color and form. It’s like he’s always in conversation with himself, always searching.