kandinsky and theosophy

Kandinsky's 1912 ''Lady in Moscow'' is a show stopper. Through research of Kandinsky’s life in Russia before becoming an artist, Theosophical thought in Russia’s Silver Age, the relationship between Russia and Germany at the beginning of the twentieth century, and a close analysis of his philosophy of colors and forms (by looking at his books, On the Spiritual in Art and Point and Line to Plane), I developed an argument for the three paintings. This show was one of the first times the all-male origin story of abstraction was challenged within the ivory tower. John Algeo (November 12, 1930 - October 13, 2019) was an American professor who was President of the Theosophical Society in America from 1993–2002, and then served as Vice President of the international Theosophical Society in Adyar, Chennai, India until 2008. Kandinsky's later references to Madame Blavatsky and to Theosophy suggest that he has a very particular interpretation of this idea, according to which this inner sounding is an unmediated mystical vision of a higher spiritual reality. Kandinsky wasn’t what we might call religious in the traditional sense, but he was deeply spiritual. 1), done in Munich and left behind in the Soviet Union following the Russian Revolution, "is my very first abstract painting from the year 1911 (this was the first abstract picture that was ever painted in our time)" (quoted in H.K. Kandinsky was probably more closely acquainted with this version of theosophy because of the time he spent in Germany. We incarnate into this life to evolve as a soul. He was also drawn to the spiritual ideas of theosophy of Madame Blavatsky. “Kandinsky… became a prolific writer on the theory behind abstract art. Blavatsky and of Annie Besant and C.W. Then, Finnish art historian Sixten Ringbom (left, 1935 -1992) published a pioneer study, The Sounding Cosmos, claiming that Theosophy had a decisive influence on Wassily Kandinsky (1866 -1944) and the The occult and satanic influence on abstract art, Kandinsky, Mondrian, influenced by Helena Blavatsky, founder of Theosophy and author of The Secret Doctrine, … Born in Moscow, Russia, in 1866, Wassily Kandinsky evolved as a soul through his painting. Initially these writings drew heavily on the fields of theosophy and anthroposophy, reflecting Kandinsky’s belief that his paintings were manifestations of a new spirituality. He used an amalgam of chaotic shapes and colours in Composition IV to convey emotional and spiritual meanings. Kandinsky’s experiments became too much for Stalin’s increasing political control over the art-scene and also Kandinsky’s spiritual outlook was not comme il faut for the trending Soviet Realism. Abstract Art & Theosophy Cunha Alvarenga One cannot deny the occult, magical and satanic influence on the most representative currents of modern art such as Surrealism. Via the backdrop of theosophy, occultism, mysticism and Wassily Kandinsky was a Russian abstract expressionist painter who was heavily influenced by Theosophy. While Zimmermann is completely correct in evoking an “ethereal” realm he associates with Theosophy, Kandinsky would have derived support for such a view of matter and space from a much broader range of sources than the “thought-forms” and auras of Annie Besant and C. W. Leadbeater that have generally dominated discussions of this topic in the literature on the artist. Leadbeater, whose book Thought Forms influenced his painting (Ringbom). This was several years before Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944), Piet Mondrian (1872–1944) and Kazimir Malevich (1878–1935), who are still regarded as the pioneers of abstract 20th-century art. Thus his practice was influenced by Theosophical … Vasiliy Vasilyevich Kandinskiy, IPA: [vɐˈsʲilʲɪj vɐˈsʲilʲjɪvʲɪtɕ kɐnʲˈdʲinskʲɪj]; 16 December [O.S. Thus his practice was influenced by Theosophical … In his book Concerning the Spiritual in Art ( Über das Geistige in der Kunst), Kandinsky referred to many Theosophical ideas.Like Mme. Wassily Wassilyevich Kandinsky (/ ˌ v æ s ɪ l i k æ n ˈ d ɪ n s k i /; Russian: Василий Васильевич Кандинский, tr. Kandinsky was probably more closely acquainted with this version of theosophy because of the time he spent in Germany. Wassily Kandinsky was a Russian painter, art theorist, and poet. He was aware of Theosophical writings, particularly those of H.P. By 1906, she had developed an abstract imagery. All three artists had relationships to architecture even … Af Klint, made these paintings before Kandinsky, and she was a woman. 4 December] 1866 – 13 December 1944) was a Russian painter and art theorist. Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, and Piet Mondrian are the artists most closely associated with theosophy. Theosophy was the first occult group to open its doors to women, and it deeply questioned gender roles, many of these ideas are also in Af Klint’s paintings. Leadbeater, whose book Thought Forms influenced his painting (Ringbom). Steiner’s lectures covered a broad range of theosophical topics. Influenced by Christian eschatology, the work of Claude Monet, the music of Wagner and by theosophy, Kandinsky was an integral artist and thinker who created completely new concepts in art. Theosophy inspired art to reach for a deeper meaning and new ways of creation and perception that were highly innovative. “Every man who steeps himself in the spiritual possibilities of his art is a valuable helper in the building of the spiritual pyramid, which will someday reach to heaven”. He became famous for painting the first purely abstract works as part of the Soviet avant-garde that flourished until about 1930. Blavatsky and of Annie Besant and C.W. source: an occult spiritualist movement called Theosophy. Among the thinkers who most influenced him was Helena Petrova Blavatsky, co-founder of the Theosophical Society in 1875, who contended that there is a higher, immaterial realm beyond the visible world. Wassily Kandinsky acknowledged in a letter dated 4 August 1935 to the dealer J.B. Neumann that Bild mit Kreis ("Picture with a Circle"; (fig. He wrote a hugely influential book, Concerning the Spiritual in Art, and taught at the Bauhaus. The usage of colour in Monet’s painting Haystacks and the musical composition of Richard Wagner's Lohengrin left quite an impression on Kandinsky. Section five describes briefly the occult resurgence at the turn of the twentieth century with a particular focus on the movement of Theosophy and Steiner’s eventual conversion to this group. His theoretical works illuminate not only those who dedicate their lives to creativity but also to anyone who seeks appropriate paths to the exercise of vital exploration. Theosophy is a religion established in the United States during the late nineteenth century. Surrealism, according to Hans Sedmayr,(1) is nothing but subterranean-realism or the demonic basement of art. Kandinsky can be called a Theosophical artist on several grounds. Kandinsky and the spiritual Kandinsky had a spiritual mind. Blavatsky. Wassily Kandinsky: Yellow, Red, Blue (1925) Bemoaning the tendency of the general public to reduce art to technique and skill, Kandinsky argues that its true purpose is entirely different and adds to history’s most beautiful definitions of art: In each picture is a whole lifetime imprisoned, a whole lifetime of fears, doubts, hopes, and joys. Combined with his concurrent interest in the theosophical work of Madame Blavatsky, with her emphasis on the creative imagination and geometrical symbolism in relation to the nature of divinity, the canvas was primed for Kandinsky’s ineluctable metamorphosis. Click below for more info: Wassily Kandinsky 82 Most Important Paintings and Artworks ♦ Blavatsky News: Centenary of ‘Concerning the Spiritual in Art’ He was aware of Theosophical writings, particularly those of H.P. It was founded primarily by the Russian immigrant Helena Blavatsky and draws its teachings predominantly from Blavatsky's writings. Kandinsky can be called a Theosophical artist on several grounds. However, his name comes up several times in the editors’ introductions, and—most importantly—they cite Kandinsky’s attendance at several of Steiner’s anthroposophical lectures in 1908. I believe that the same can be said about Abstract Art. Many early abstractionists, including Vassily Kandinsky, Piet Mondrian, Kasimir Malevich, and František Kupka, as well as Hilma af Klint, cited Theosophy as a direct source for their ideas and works.. Kandinsky recognized the connection between music and painting.” he showed something of the influence Theosophy had on him by a reference to both Theosophy and H.P. Hilma af Klint (1862–1944) was a pioneer of art that turned away from visible reality. Whilst Kandinsky’s endeavours were supported through the auspices of the Neue Künstlervereinigung, Der Blaue Reiter and the Bauhaus, he comes across more as a mostly nomadic Shaman, save the brief symbiotic artistic alliance with Schoenberg for a select few years. A woman stands in the foreground with her hand around a dog like a medium around a crystal ball. Floating to her left is a pink sphere. All three of the "pioneering abstractionists" (Kandinsky, Malevich and Mondrian) shared an interest in theosophy and in the 4th dimension, less as a mathematical idea than as a spiritual/philosophical idea. It was also a crisis that involved the question of the purpose of art, more particularly, of its necessity, especially in the modern materialistic world. Theosophy Rediscovered Only a few specialized academics studied Theosophy before 1970. Kandinsky, like the theosophical philosophy, intended to use his art to bring about a greater sense of morality and ethics, to heighten man’s consciousness. He was influenced by this thought to the extent that he always wanted to 'paint astral plane,' and probably this was the chief inspiration behind publishing 'Concerning the Spiritual in Art in 1911' (Gibbons 2001, p. 14). Wassily Kandinsky, Composition V. Photograph: [Public Domain] Wikimedia Commons As noted, all three of the "pioneering abstractionists" (Kandinsky, Malevich and Mondrian) shared an interest in theosophy and in the 4th dimension, less as a mathematical idea than as a spiritual/philosophical idea. Expressionist painter who was heavily influenced by theosophy he used an amalgam of chaotic shapes and colours Composition... Be said about abstract art s lectures covered a broad range of topics... 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