Small Dream in Red is an iconic painting that was gifted by Wassily Kandinsky to his wife Nina in 1925. Kandinsky, a renowned abstract artist, had fully committed himself to pure geometric shapes and abstract approaches by the time he painted this intimate work. The painting features a range of activities across a primarily brown background with lyrical geometrical abstractions that bask in warm tones.
Kandinsky was known for his unique viewpoint on the form and function of art, which emphasized the synthesis of visual and auditory elements through forms like triangles, circles, and checkered patterns. He used hard-edged styles to convey content deeper than what meets the eye. Small Dream in Red is an exemplary manifestation of Kandinsky’s mastery of abstract art.
This piece features predominantly plain blocks but delivers a feeling of ambiguity through its wave-like structure towards the center. One striking feature is its dynamic rhythm created by floating forms dispersed throughout the painting. It’s interesting to note how the soft brushstrokes applied to create rhythmic patterns are still visible beneath several layers within some areas of this piece – indicating Kandinsky’s methodical style even with repetition movements.
Small Dream in Red stands as part and parcel of Wassily Kandinsky’s repertoire as one who possessed thorough knowledge about colors’ meaning, shapes’ impact on composition, and allegorical interpretation through imagery.
