Concerning the Spiritual in Art

By Wassily Kandinsky | Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

About the book

A seminal text in the history of modern art, from one of the most famous artists of the twentieth century

‘Art is the language that speaks to the soul’

Why do we make art? In Concerning the Spiritual in Art Wassily Kandinsky, one of the earliest and most famous abstract painters, argued against ‘art for art’s sake’. Exploring form and colour, spirituality and tradition, Kandinsky instead predicted a future for painting in its potential to redirect the attention of viewers away from the shallow materialism of the modern world toward the more profound intellectual and emotional concerns of their interior lives. His revolutionary work became a landmark in modern art history, helping to usher in the age of non-representational painting. This new translation also includes Kandinsky’s later essay, ‘The Question of Form’, in which he interrogates and sharpens many of his earlier ideas.

A new translation by Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp
With an introduction by Lisa Florman

Editions of Concerning the Spiritual in Art

Paperback
ISBN 9780241384800
EBook
ISBN 9780241384817

Read an Excerpt

A seminal text in the history of modern art, from one of the most famous artists of the twentieth century

‘Art is the language that speaks to the soul’

Why do we make art? In Concerning the Spiritual in Art Wassily Kandinsky, one of the earliest and most famous abstract painters, argued against ‘art for art’s sake’. Exploring form and colour, spirituality and tradition, Kandinsky instead predicted a future for painting in its potential to redirect the attention of viewers away from the shallow materialism of the modern world toward the more profound intellectual and emotional concerns of their interior lives. His revolutionary work became a landmark in modern art history, helping to usher in the age of non-representational painting. This new translation also includes Kandinsky’s later essay, ‘The Question of Form’, in which he interrogates and sharpens many of his earlier ideas.

A new translation by Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp
With an introduction by Lisa Florman

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Concerning the Spiritual in Art about?

A seminal text in the history of modern art, from one of the most famous artists of the twentieth century

‘Art is the language that speaks to the soul’

Why do we make art? In Concerning the Spiritual in Art Wassily Kandinsky, one of the earliest and most famous abstract painters, argued against ‘art for art’s sake’. Exploring form and colour, spirituality and tradition, Kandinsky instead predicted a future for painting in its potential to redirect the attention of viewers away from the shallow materialism of the modern world toward the more profound intellectual and emotional concerns of their interior lives. His revolutionary work became a landmark in modern art history, helping to usher in the age of non-representational painting. This new translation also includes Kandinsky’s later essay, ‘The Question of Form’, in which he interrogates and sharpens many of his earlier ideas.

A new translation by Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp
With an introduction by Lisa Florman

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Concerning the Spiritual in Art?

The Arts > The arts: general topics > Theory of art

Where can I read a sample of Concerning the Spiritual in Art?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780241384800

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Concerning the Spiritual in Art?

Wassily Kandinsky

Who is the Publisher of the book Concerning the Spiritual in Art?

Penguin Books Ltd

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Concerning the Spiritual in Art is available as paperback(ISBN 9780241384800) and ebook(ISBN 9780241384817)

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