Wassily Kandinsky

Nina Kandinsky, Neuilly-sur-Seine

Milan, Galleria del Milione, Kandinsky, 1934
Paris, Cahiers d'Art, W. Kandinsky : nouvelles toiles, aquarelles, dessins, 1935
Paris, Galerie Claude Bernard, Kandinsky : dessins 1922-1944, 1963, no. 34, illustré
Helsinki, Ateneum, Kandinsky, 1866-1944, 1966, no. 17
Dusseldorf, Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Kandinsky, 1992, no. 146, illustré
Cajarc (Lot), Maison des arts Georges Pompidou, Autour d'une collection, le Président et Madame Georges Pompidou, 1994
Paris, Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Passions privées, 1995-96, no. A50.5, illustré p. 436

Hommage au Président Georges Pompidou, un homme de culture (catalogue d'exposition), Artcurial, Paris, illustré p. 30
Vivian Endicott Barnett & Armin Zweite, Kandinsky, dessins et aquarelles, Paris, 1992, no. 146, illustré n. p.
Vivian Endicott Barnett, Kandinsky, Drawings, Catalogue raisonné, vol. I, Munich, 2006, no. 906, illustré p. 433

Executed on cream wove paper laid down on board. The sheet probably comes from an album since the left edge is perforated. There are few marks in the right part of the composition, which may correspond to the glue on the reverse side. There is a 2x1cm. area of dirt in the centre of the lower edge. Apart from some time-staining throughout, this work is in good original condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

signed with the monogram and dated '33' (lower left), ink on paper. Executed in 1933.

Les formes abstraites et anthropomorphiques de ce dessin révèlent l'influence du mouvement surréaliste dans l'art de Kandinsky des années 1930.

Dès 1934, à la suite de la fermeture du Bauhaus, Kandinsky s'installe à Paris. Devenu proche de Jean Arp et Sophie Täuber-Arp et leurs amis, l'artiste développe un fascination pour l'œuvre de Joan Miró. C'est dans cette atmosphère parisienne d'émulation artistique que Kandinsky développe un style libre. Loin des constructions géométriques qui caractérisaient sa production constructiviste, de nombreuses formes curvilignes et aériennes envahissent ses compositions.

 

The abstract, anthropomorphic forms of this drawing reflect the influence of the Surrealist movement on Kandinsky's art of this period, and are particularly reminiscent of Arp's collages.

With the Bauhaus school closed in autumn 1933, Kandinsky moved to Paris by the end of the year. He became friendly with Jean Arp and Sophie Täuber-Arp and was particularly impressed by the works of Joan Miró. Under the influence of such artists, Kandinsky adopted a free style far from the geometric order of his Bauhaus years, his new paintings populated by flying forms, curves and amoebic shapes.