Composition VIII
Composition VIII is a little oil work by Wassily Kandinsky. The eighth painting in the series that started in 1911, it was created in 1923. The painter sought to express his views on music and its beauty through painting. Large concentric circles are used in this composition, and each one is given a distinct color. The artwork, which is on display at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, is a superb example of abstract expressionism.
The geometric shapes in Kandinsky's artwork strive to create a universal aesthetic language that is both hostile and serene. The circle, a key element in the composition, is crucial because it enables the creative synthesis of powerful oppositions. The artist characterized the circles as a unique combination of the “concentric” and “eccentric” and described it as a “meditative state of the human spirit”. Even though Composition VIII is a well-known work today, it is unclear whether it was finished before 1919. The artist lived in Germany for a while before returning to Russia at the start of the war. He had some time to consider his life and his art after the war. Composition VIII is a piece that is highly recommended for all art students since it ultimately demonstrates how internalized Kandinsky's vision was.
The composer meant the piece to be a portrayal of a musical moment, despite the somewhat ambiguous title. He was depressed at the time, and that time is reflected in the song. He remained in Germany for a number of years after the war. Upon his return, he began to write again. The composition VIII is influenced by his work in the nine years before the First World War. Composition VIII reflects his influence from the Bauhaus School. It combines elements of abstract art with the ethos of the Bauhaus. It is also the first of Kandinsky’s works after the First World War. It is a work that focuses on the idea of the Bauhaus and the ethos of the Bauhaus movement. This painting demonstrates the influence of both modernist movements on the artist.
Location: The Guggenheim, New York, United States
Style: Geometric Abstraction
Year: 1923
