Abstract painting “Heavy Red” (1924) by Wassily Kandinsky, giclée print on canvas

Wassily Kandinsky's first steps toward abstraction occurred around 1908, when dabs of color appeared in his landscapes, drawing the viewer's attention to isolated aspects of the subject. Soon, nature was only suggested. A watercolor dated 1910 by Kandinsky (but possibly created in 1913) is considered his first non-representational work. His works became "compositions" in which the synesthete searched for "color harmonies" and formal relationships. From then on, Kandinsky systematically explored the interplay of geometric forms and calculated color relationships. "Heavy Red" dates from this period, during which Kandinsky taught at the Bauhaus.