“Color is a means of exerting a direct influence upon the soul,” wrote the pioneering abstract artist Wassily Kandinsky. The Russian-born painter and theorist dedicated his life to using abstract compositions of form and color to express deep emotion as well as to depict the language of music through visuals.
Kandinsky was part of a crucial moment in art history — the early 20th century — that saw the rise of movements like Cubism. He embraced styles such as Surrealism and Fauvism and was a leading figure in bringing together Der Blaue Reiter (the name means “The Blue Rider” after one of Kandinsky’s paintings) in 1911, a group of avant-garde artists in Munich, including Paul Klee and Franz Marc, who explored spiritual concepts through their art as a response to the materialism of the time. Kandinsky also led courses on analytical drawing and color at the Bauhaus. He was 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 Nazi party in Berlin.
The artist had the rare and unusual trait of synesthesia, the neurological ability to perceive things using multiple senses. In Kandinsky’s case, it was the gift of “seeing” music, and music appeared in every aspect of his work, including the titles of his series “Compositions,” “Improvisations” and “Impressions.” He once described the experience of painting using a musical metaphor: “I had little thought for houses and trees, drawing colored lines and blobs on the canvas with my palette knife, and making them sing just as powerfully as I knew how.”
While Kandinsky isn’t the first abstract artist — mystically inclined painter Hilma af Klint was making nonrepresentational art well before him — he certainly had the biggest impact on establishing the style. His paintings inspired the likes of Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning and other Abstract Expressionists. From his Untitled (First Abstract Watercolor) painted in 1910 to future works, his unique take on using color and flair for bold, experimental compositions, Kandinsky is one of the most important figures of early-20th-century art.
Find original Wassily Kandinsky art, including paintings and prints, on 1stDibs.
National Gallery of Art "Improvisation 31 (Sea Battle)" Unframed Poster, 1988
By Wassily Kandinsky
Located in Winchester, GB
This original 1988 poster from the National Gallery of Art in Washington features Wassily Kandinsky's 1913 painting "Improvisation 31 (Sea Battle)". Filled with sweeping lines, vivid...
Paper
$1,783
H 39.38 in W 24.41 in D 0.04 in
Original Vintage Travel Advertising Poster Air France Art Deco National Clothing
Located in London, GB
Original vintage travel advertising poster for Air France featuring a stunning Art Deco design with illustrations of people dressed in traditional costumes and national clothing from around the world - including a Spanish flamenco dancer, a Scottish bagpipe musician in a tartan kilt...
Paper
Die Hard 1988 Egyptian Film Poster
Located in Bath, Somerset
Yippee-ki-yay. A cracking original Egyptian film poster for Die Hard, one of the greatest action movies ever made — and, yes, a Christmas favourite. This bold international design gi...
Paper
$350
H 22 in W 16.5 in D 0.25 in
Adja Yunkers Utah Museum of Fine Art Lithographic Exhibition Poster Unframed '69
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A modern lithographic exhibition poster on paper promoting Adja Yunkers at Utah Museum of Fine Art, 1969. An abstracted composition in gold and blue tones. Provenance: Alice Simsar G...
Paper
$2,588
H 27.96 in W 20.16 in D 0.12 in
Picasso Poster, Le Cubisme, Musée 1907-1914. National D'Art Moderne, Paris 1953
Located in Stockholm, SE
Vintage Original Pablo Picasso Lithographic Poster in colors, created for an exhibition at the Musee National d’Art Moderne, Paris (National Museum of Modern Art). From the edition...
Paper
$1,303
H 23.63 in W 31.89 in D 0.04 in
Original Antique Propaganda Poster War National Industry Of Prussia WWI Germany
Located in London, GB
Original antique French propaganda poster featuring a quote by Mirabeau at the top - La Guerre est l'Industrie Nationale de la Prusse / War is the national industry of Prussia - with...
Paper
$1,303
H 31.7 in W 47.25 in D 0.04 in
Original Vintage Art Deco French National Loan Peace Poster - Emprunt National
By Jean Carlu
Located in London, GB
Original vintage French national loan poster: Pour la Renaissance economique dans la paix. Emprunt National. Reserve Aux Porteurs d'or et de bons du t...
Paper
$444Sale Price|20% Off
H 23.43 in W 15.16 in D 0.04 in
National Lottery Slice of Christmas Original Vintage Poster
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
National lottery slice of Christmas original vintage poster.
Paper
$2,181
H 31.89 in W 53.55 in D 0.99 in
David Hockney 1982 A Diver Paper Pools Australian National Gallery Poster Print
Located in Norwich, England
The Australian National Gallery, Canberra, "A Diver" from Paper Pools, offset lithographic exhibition framed poster. 1982. After David Hockney (1937-2026) The large scale vintage ex...
Aluminum
$4,938
H 48.04 in W 34.06 in D 0.04 in
Original Vintage National Academy of Sciences NAS Poster Space Herbert Danska
Located in London, GB
Original vintage National Academy of Sciences (NAS) poster - Space "Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, Or what's a heaven for?" Browning - from a series of six posters cr...
Paper
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 28.55 in W 20.28 in D 0.04 in
Henri Matisse, 'Musee National D’art Moderne' Original Exhibition Poster, 1956
By (after) Henri Matisse
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
Between 1900 and 1905, Matisse painted in the style called Fauves (French for “wild beasts”). Many of his finest works were created in the decade or so after 1906. Matisse developed ...
Paper
$145
H 35 in W 21.75 in D 0.12 in
Vintage Australian National Art Gallery Jack Wanuwun 1988. Exhibition Poster.
Located in Seattle, WA
This Print is of a 1987 artwork titled “ Barnumbirr the Morning Star.” eclectic tribal style of Art. Red and yellow primary tones. Vintage Condition Consistent with Age as Pictured. ...
Paper
Mr Chad WW2 National Savings Poster Circa 1940s
Located in Gloucester, GB
Mr Chad WW2 National Savings Poster Circa 1940s - Original WW2 national savings poster - Features one of the first illustrations of Mr Chad - Framed ...
Paper
$1,989
H 29.93 in W 20.08 in D 0.04 in
Original Vintage Poster The Storming Of Shwegyin By Indian Troops WWII Battle
Located in London, GB
Original vintage World War Two propaganda poster - The storming of Shwegyin by Indian troops. In six hours of fierce hand-to-hand fighting the town was cleared of Japanese troops. Smash Japanese Aggression! - featuring Indian soldiers...
Paper
$3,017
H 39.77 in W 24.81 in D 0.04 in
Original Vintage Travel Advertising Poster Deauville National French Railways
By Roger de Valerio
Located in London, GB
Original vintage travel advertising poster published by the Chemins de Fer de l'Etat / National French Railways to promote tourism to the holiday seasid...
Paper
$1,646
H 18.31 in W 19.69 in D 0.04 in
Original Vintage WWII Poster Soviet Baltic Pilots Fighter Jets Ships Sea Battle
Located in London, GB
Original vintage World War Two poster depicting a battle scene showing Baltic pilots destroying enemy warships at sea with an illustration of planes flying through smoke in the sky a...
Paper
Sold
H 33.08 in W 23.23 in D 0.04 in
Original Vintage Poster Kandinsky Graphic Works Exhibition Munich Bauhaus Kites
By Wassily Kandinsky
Located in London, GB
Original vintage advertising poster for an exhibition of graphic works by the notable abstract artist Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944) held at the Stadtische Gallery in Lenbachhaus Muni...
Paper