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Composition VI Wassily Kandinsky, 1913
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πŸŒ€ Dreams & Big Ideas

Composition VI

Wassily Kandinsky Β· 1913

Why it's great

Swirling colors and lines crash together across a big canvas, in a wild abstract design that seems to explode. Kandinsky based it on the Great Flood, but hid the story in shapes. It took him months to figure out, until he repeated the word 'overflow' to himself. It's one of the great abstract works.

Where to see it

πŸ“ Hermitage MuseumSaint Petersburg, Russia

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Hang it on your wall

⬇ Hi-res download 1,132 Γ— 745 px Β· 0.8 megapixels This is the largest scan on Wikimedia Commons, which is fairly small for a big print. The museum that owns it may offer a larger one. File page & license β†—

Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:

These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.

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About the artist

Wassily Kandinsky

1866–1944 Β· born in Moscow Β· died in Neuilly-sur-Seine

Wassily Kandinsky was born in Moscow and trained as a lawyer before becoming a painter at age 30. He lived in Russia, Germany and later France. He is considered one of the first artists to paint truly abstract works, using color and shape like music. He died in Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris, in 1944.

More by Wassily Kandinsky

More dreams & big ideas