Wassily Kandinsky

“An artist who sees that the imitation of natural appearances, however artistic, is not for him”

“..the works of Mozart . They create a welcome pause amidst the storms of our inner life, a vision of consolation and hope, but we hear them like sounds of another, vanished and essential unfamiliar age. Clashing discords, loss of equilibrium.. Quote from: On the Spiritual in Art , 1911; as cited in Schönberg and Kandinsky: An Historic Encounter , by Klaus Kropfinger; edited by Konrad Boehmer; published by Routledge (imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informal company), 2003, p. 17”

“At the moment there is a great tendency in painting to discover the 'new' harmony by constructive means whereby the rhythmic is built on an almost geometric form.. .I am certain that our own modern harmony is not to be found in the 'geometric' way, but rather in the anti”

“Kandinsky visited a concert with music of Schönberg on 11 Jan. 1911 with Franz Marc , Alexej von Jawlensky , Gabriele Münter and others; they played compositions, Schönberg wrote in 1907 and 1909: his second string quartet and the 'Three piano pieces'”

“In your [ composer Schönberg's ] works, you have realized what I, albeit in uncertain form, have so greatly longed for in music. The independent progress through their own destinies, the independent life of the individual voices in your compositions, is exactly what I am trying to find in my painting. in his letter to Arnold Schönberg , 18 Jan. 1911; as cited in Schonberg and Kandinsky: An Historic Encounter , by Klaus Kropfinger; edited by Konrad Boehmer; published by Routledge (imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informal company), 2003, p. 9”

“[ Schoenberg's ] music leads us into a realm where musical experience is a matter not of the ear but of the soul alone, and at this point the music of the future begins. Quote of Kandinsky, 1911; in Concerning the Spiritual in Art , transl. Michael T. Sadler (1914); reprint. New York: Dover, 1977), p. 17”

“Opposites and contradictions, that is our harmony. German original: Gegensätze und Widerspruche, dass ist unsere Harmonie. short quote, 1911; as cited in schönberg and Kandinsky: An Historic Encounter , by Klaus Kropfinger; ed. Konrad Boehmer; published by Routledge (imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informal company), 2003, p. 9, note 1”

“Mystery, speaking through mysteries. Isn't that meaning? Isn't that the conscious or unconsciousnes purpose of the compulsive urge to create? Quote, c. 1910; as cited by de:Wolf”

“The impressions we receive, which often appear merely chaotic, consist of three elements; the impression of the color of the object, its form, and of its combined color and form, i.e., of the object itself. At this point the individuality of the artist comes to the front and disposes, as he wills, these three elements. It is clear, therefore, that the choice of object (i.e., of one of the elements in the harmony of form) must be decided only by a corresponding vibration in the human soul.. Quote of Kandinsky, Munich, 1910; as cited in Artists on Art”

“Frankly, I think there is something wrong with Jawlensky 's dots [in his paintings, then]. Anybody can pick up that style if they want to. Quote of Kandinsky, c 1903; as cited by de:Wolf”