Komposition IV

Komposition IV by Wassily Kandinsky, executed in 1911, marks a critical step in the artist's theoretical development toward non-representational painting. Created using oil-tempera on canvas, this work showcases Kandinsky's experimental technical approach, combining traditional oil binders with tempera to achieve both rich texture and brilliant color saturation. This painting is a pivotal example of the expressive movement taking root in Munich just prior to the founding of Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider) group later that same year.

Kandinsky sought to create a spiritual language through pure color and form, viewing abstraction as a direct emotional vehicle, akin to musical composition. The large scale of the Komposition series denotes the artist’s commitment to theoretical investigation. Although figurative elements are almost completely dissolved, the painting maintains an internal rhythm defined by intersecting black lines and highly energetic color fields, reflecting the central tenets of German Expressionism. The viewer is invited to perceive the dynamic tensions and balances established by Kandinsky's arrangement of fragmented shapes and contrasting hues, embodying the concept of inner necessity that governed his creative philosophy.

This monumental canvas is a significant holding of the Kunstsammlung NRW, where it helps anchor the museum’s representation of early modernist abstraction. Due to the overwhelming historical importance of works like Komposition IV, high-quality prints and scholarly reproductions are frequently studied and disseminated, allowing students and enthusiasts worldwide access to Kandinsky’s revolutionary vision, even while the original remains protected within the museum environment.