Composition no.4 , 1911

Composition no. 4 was painted in 1911 and is the fourth of a series of paintings by Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky. The paintings he entitled Compositions explore the artist’s attempts to represent a form of music through the medium of painting.
The painting is in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. Apart from his artistic work, Kandinsky was also a prolific writer, and he explained in great detail what he was trying to achieve in these compositions. He did not want his paintings to be representational. Instead, he used an abstract style to convey emotional and spiritual meanings.

Composition IV is a symphony of confused shapes and colours. Many of the shapes evoke ideas of musicians and musical instruments. The painting is divided abruptly in the centre by two thick, black vertical lines. On the left, a violent motion is expressed through the profusion of sharp, jagged and entangled lines. On the right, all is calm, with sweeping forms and colour harmonies. Composition IV works on multiple levels: initially, the colours and forms exercise an emotional impact over the viewer, without need to consider the representational aspects.
The artist had become frustrated working on it. While he was out, fellow artist Gabriele Münter tidied his studio, and turned the painting sideways. When he saw it, Kandinsky then realized this was what he had been trying to achieve.

The print is hand numbered and accompanied by a certificate signed by the Master Printer and bearing a matching number to the print.