| Composition IV | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Artist | Wassily Kandinsky |
| Year | 1911 |
| Medium | Abstract Art |
| Location | Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf, Germany |
| Dimensions | 62 7/8 x 98 5/8 in 159.5 x 250.5 cm |
| Wassily Kandinsky Famous Paintings | |
| Der Blaue Reiter, 1903 | |
| Composition IV, 1911 | |
| Composition VII, 1913 | |
| On White II, 1923 | |
| Composition VI, 1913 | |
| Composition VIII, 1923 | |
| Yellow-Red-Blue, 1925 | |
| Black and Violet, 1923 | |
| Composition X, 1939 | |
| Complete Works |
Composition IV is the fourth of a series of paintings by Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky. The paintings he entitled Compositions explore the artist’s attempts to represent the structure and form of music through the medium of painting.
The painting measures 62 7/8 x 98 5/8 inches, and it is in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. It was made using oil paints on canvas.
Style and Composition
Apart from his artistic work, Kandinsky was also a prolific writer, and he explained in great detail what he was trying to achieve in these compositions. He did not want his paintings to be representational. Instead, he used an abstract style to convey emotional and spiritual meanings.
Composition IV is a symphony of confused shapes and colors. Many of the shapes evoke ideas of musicians and musical instruments. The artist had become frustrated working on it. While he was out, fellow artist Gabriele Münter tidied his studio, and turned the painting sideways. When he saw it, Kandinsky then realized this was what he had been trying to achieve.