Black-Red 1928

Wassily Kandinsky made this intimate painting Black-Red, with oil on canvas. Imagine Kandinsky building up this image, adding layer upon layer until these shapes and textures came into being. The dominant red and black palette is intriguing, creating a dynamic contrast between the ground and the geometric forms. But what if it were green and orange? I love how he dares to allow the painting to be unresolved. He has these architectural blocks and little rainbow arcs butted up against a glowing red ground. The textures in the painting are alive, almost as if they were breathing and in motion. What was Kandinsky thinking? He often explores the spirituality of abstract forms. I’m reminded of the work of Paul Klee, another Bauhaus artist, with its playful experimentation with shapes and colors. Paintings like these keep the conversation alive and encourage us to consider the multiple interpretations and meanings.