Why was Kandinsky called the Father of Abstract Art?

Kandinsky was called the Father of Abstract Art because he was part of a crucial moment in art history. He was influenced by styles ranging from Surrealism to Fauvism and was a leading figure in bringing together Der Blaue Reiter, a group of avant-garde artists in Munich who explored spiritual concepts through their art as a response to the materialism of the time. Wassily Kandinsky also led courses on analytical drawing and color at the Bauhaus after being appointed by founder and architect Walter Gropius to teach in Weimar in 1922. He taught at all three of the legendary school’s locations and remained with the institution until its forced closure by the Nazis in 1933. Through his work, Kandinsky pushed modern art closer to total abstraction and inspired artists like Willem de Kooning and Joan Mitchell. Explore a range of Wassily Kandinsky art on 1stDibs.