Watercolor No. 13 (Aquarell No. 13) by Wassily Kandinsky, drawing, 1913

Watercolor No. 13 (Aquarell No. 13)

Wassily Kandinsky

Year
1913
Medium
Watercolor, ink and pencil on paper
Dimensions
12 5/8 x 16" (32.1 x 40.6 cm)
Museum
Other

About This Artwork

Watercolor No. 13 (Aquarell No. 13) by Vasily Kandinsky is a pivotal drawing created in 1913, utilizing watercolor, ink, and pencil on paper. This non-objective work belongs to a crucial moment in the artist's career, marking his definitive break from representation and affirming his commitment to pure abstraction. The composition is a visually complex network of fluid color washes intersected by sharp, dynamic ink and pencil lines, reflecting Kandinsky’s ongoing exploration of the inherent emotional and spiritual properties of form and color.

The year (1913) was critical for the evolution of modern art, and Kandinsky stood at the forefront of the European avant-garde. Although predominantly associated with German Expressionism and the Der Blaue Reiter collective, this drawing emerged during a period of intense artistic dialogue that transcended national boundaries, influencing and being influenced by creative developments in the French cultural sphere. Kandinsky’s technique here foregrounds the interaction between media: the watercolor provides luminous, atmospheric fields of intense color, while the structure is defined by energetic applications of ink and pencil that suggest movement, collision, and weightlessness. The interplay between these materials emphasizes the work's spontaneous energy, capturing a fleeting yet powerful moment of artistic creation.

Classified specifically as a drawing, this piece demonstrates the essential role of works on paper in charting the artist’s progression toward fully developed non-objective paintings. Watercolor No. 13 (Aquarell No. 13) captures the dynamism of the burgeoning abstract movement and offers deep insight into Kandinsky’s revolutionary vision. This significant piece of 20th-century art history is held in the esteemed collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. Due to its historical importance and age, many high-resolution images and fine art prints of this seminal work are widely accessible through public domain collections for scholarly study and public appreciation.

Cultural & Historical Context

Classification
Drawing
Culture
French
Period
(1913)

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