Concerning the Spiritual in Art

audiobook

Concerning the Spiritual in Art

by Wassily Kandinsky

EN·~2 hours·13 chapters

Chapters

13 total
1

LIST OF FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS [NOT IN E-TEXT] TRANSLATOR'S INTRODUCTION - PART I. ABOUT GENERAL AESTHETIC - I. INTRODUCTION II. THE MOVEMENT OF THE TRIANGLE III. SPIRITUAL REVOLUTION IV. THE PYRAMID - PART II. ABOUT PAINTING - V. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WORKING OF COLOUR VI. THE LANGUAGE OF FORM AND COLOUR VII. THEORY VIII. ART AND ARTISTS IX. CONCLUSION - LIST OF FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS [NOT IN E-TEXT]

0:57
2

TRANSLATOR'S INTRODUCTION

51:36
3

DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF ELISABETH TICHEJEFF - PART 1: ABOUT GENERAL AESTHETIC - I. INTRODUCTION

10:44
4

II. THE MOVEMENT OF THE TRIANGLE

8:41
5

IV. THE PYRAMID

3:59
6

PART II: ABOUT PAINTING - V. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WORKING OF COLOUR

7:51
7

VI. THE LANGUAGE OF FORM AND COLOUR

26:30
8

FIGURE I

13:50
9

FIGURE II

1:05
10

FIGURE III.

10:20

Description

In this thoughtful treatise the author, a leading figure of the Munich avant‑garde, argues that modern painters have a social and spiritual duty to make their inner visions accessible. He critiques the old “art for art’s sake” mindset and proposes a dialogue in which the public can genuinely grasp the soul behind the canvas. The introduction sets the tone, urging readers to see art not as an isolated eccentricity but as a teaching tool for a deeper understanding of humanity.

The work unfolds in two parts, first outlining a general aesthetic that includes the “movement of the triangle” and the symbolic power of the pyramid. The second part turns to painting itself, examining how colour works psychologically, how form and colour together form a language, and how the concept of “inner sound” unites visual expression with music and poetry. Throughout, the author blends concrete examples—from Renaissance masters to contemporary abstractions—with philosophical reflection, inviting listeners to contemplate how visual elements can echo the spiritual currents of life.

By the close of the opening sections, the reader is equipped with a fresh vocabulary for interpreting art’s hidden resonance, laying the groundwork for a richer engagement with the masterpieces that follow.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~2 hours (155K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Release date

2004-03-01

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Wassily Kandinsky

Wassily Kandinsky

1866–1944

A pioneer of abstract art, he changed the course of modern painting by treating color, line, and shape as expressive forces in their own right. His work joined bold visual invention with deep ideas about music, emotion, and the spiritual power of art.

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