The artwork entitled “Colorful Life,” created by Wassily Kandinsky in 1907 in Munich, Germany, is an exemplary piece of Expressionism. Executed in tempera on canvas, and measuring 130 x 162.5 cm, this genre painting is housed at the Lenbachhaus in Munich, Germany.
In “Colorful Life,” a plethora of figures, clad in vivid and stylized garments, engage in various activities against a backdrop of an ethereal landscape. The scene carries a vibrant, almost dreamlike quality, with a diversity of characters populating the composition. The figures appear to be in a celebratory or communal gathering, encapsulated within an otherworldly atmosphere marked by bold, contrasting colors and dynamic forms. The background is adorned with sparsely detailed, darkly colored hills and architectural elements that lend depth and narrative richness to the scene. The overall composition, saturated with expressive colors and forms, speaks to Kandinsky’s innovative approach towards painting and his significant contribution to the Expressionist movement.