Wassily Kandinsky was a Russian painter born in 1866 who was inspired by music to create abstract paintings using shapes and colors. After initially becoming a teacher, he left at age 30 to study art, creating non-representational works influenced by his love of music, believing that certain tones elicited certain colors. Kandinsky felt music and painting were closely related and listened to music to help decide which colors and shapes to use in his abstract compositions.

1. WASSILY
KANDINSK
Y

2. Wassily Kandinsky was born in
December 1866 in Moscow,
Russia. As a child he loved music
and learned to play the piano and
the cello.

3. After Kandinsky left school he became a
teacher. When he was 30 years old he
left and started studying art.

4. Kandinsky’s artwork is called
ABSTRACT.
His paintings are made up of lots of
shapes.

5. Here is what
his work
looks like.
Composition VIII, 1923
Yellow, Red, Blue, 1925
What shapes can
you see?
What colours can
you see?

11. Kandinsky’s favourite music was
Richard Wagner.
His favourite was jazz music. He listened to
music to help decide what colours and
shapes to use.

12. Kandinsky said
“I see colours when I listen to
music.”

13. Kandinsky died on the 13th
December 1944.
He was 78 years old.