Wassily Kandinsky was a Russian painter and art theorist considered one of the first abstract painters.
Kandinsky was born in Moscow in 1866 and lived there until the age of 30.
He studied law and economics before deciding to pursue painting, enrolling at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich in 1896.
As an artist, Kandinsky is credited as one of the pioneers of modern abstract art in Europe during the early 20th century.
He was one of the first artists to explore colour theory, pioneering the use of geometric shapes and vibrant colours to create abstract images.
Kandinsky believed that music and painting could both be used to express spiritual feelings, and he drew inspiration from musical composition techniques including harmony and dissonance.
Kandinsky was also a founding member of Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider) – a group of German Expressionists who shared a passion for avant-garde art.
His style ranged from figurative works to completely abstract paintings, and he was known for his emotive use of colour and bold compositions.
Kandinsky died in 1944 in France at the age of 78, and his work has since been celebrated worldwide as one of the pioneers of modern abstract art.
