Grey oval 1917

Wassily Kandinsky made this painting, Grey Oval, with oil on canvas, but it's undated, so we can only guess when he made it. The way the colours are applied, sort of washed in, layered and blended, gives it a feeling of movement. It's like he's not just painting a picture, but capturing a process. Take that triangular shape, filled with warm browns and yellows, cut through with a sharp blue line. It's like a knife, but also like a ray of light. It divides the canvas, but also connects it. The textures are crucial here – some areas are smooth, almost translucent, while others are thick. In the top left, there's a jagged red shape with a toothed edge; it's so visceral, like a wound. Kandinsky’s not trying to tell us something, but inviting us into his world of pure feeling. If you look at the work of Paul Klee, you can see a similar willingness to embrace the unknown, and to let the process of painting itself guide the way. Ultimately, this painting reminds us that art is a journey, not a destination.