Small Pleasures 1913

Wassily Kandinsky's "Small Pleasures" features oil paint— a traditional fine art material derived from natural pigments— applied to a canvas. Kandinsky thinned the paint to allow it to flow freely, which is seen in the blurred edges that soften the meeting points of the colors. Look at the gradient of warm and cool hues applied in loose brushstrokes that fill the canvas to create a dream-like composition. This process obscures any sense of foreground or background. The making of this painting seems spontaneous, but this was certainly a conscious and skilled decision by the artist, one that broke with the more rigid traditions of the art academy, allowing Kandinsky to express himself more freely. The artwork doesn't engage with social issues of labor, politics, or consumption. Rather, the essence of the piece lies in its emphasis on the importance of materials, and making, demonstrating the way in which the making process can liberate the artist.