Wassily Kandinsky (December 16, 1866 – December 13, 1944) was a Russian painter in the early 20th century whose works are attributed to abstract art. Kandinsky was born in Moscow. During Kandinsky’s childhood music played a major role. His parents both played instruments and Kandinsky learned to play the piano and cello at a young age. Some of his paintings have musical titles, like his Improvisations and Compositions series, proving the strong influence of musical education. Even though Kandinsky pursued a long artistic career, he began by studying law and economics at Moscow University.

It was not until the age of 30, in 1896, that the artist began his artistic activity. He gave up teaching to enroll at the Academy of Art in Munich. It is said that while still in Russia he visited an exhibition of paintings by Claude Monet, which greatly influenced him in his artistic inspiration. Especially the series around the garden of Giverny inspired him to approach art with an unconventional way. Kandinsky’s own works went beyond Impressionism to abstraction.

Kandinsky was not only a painter, but also an influential art theorist. His theories and philosophies were first published in 1910 in his book On the Spiritual in Art. In 1911 Kandinsky founded the artists’ group Der Blaue Reiter, together with Gabriele Münter, Franz Marc, August Macke and Paul Klee. After the outbreak of World War I in 1914, he left Germany and returned to his native Moscow. Kandinsky was also known for his work as a teacher in the German school of the Bauhaus. He taught a variety of courses here from design fundamentals to art theory. In 1926 he published the book Point and Line to Surface. In 1926 he published the book Point and Line to Surface. In 1939 Kandinsky received French citizenship. He died five years later in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France.