Strahlenlinien

Wassily Kandinsky (in 1927)

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Luiz asked

I found a poster of this painting inside of a particle accelerator in Brazil where the scientists told me they feel inspired for Kandinsky to produce their science, which is invisible and abstract. I was wondering if there is any connection between this painting and the studies of the particles and scientific studies of particle accelerators and eletrons. Do you have any information abaout this? Thanks!
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

Hi Luiz, thanks for your question. In a very broad sense, I think, there is a connection. Kandinsky was not a scientist, but as many artists he was interested in the big questions of life, especially questions about the nature of reality - exactly those questions which scientists try to answer. Since the invention of photography, artists did not feel any longer obliged to find inspiration in visual reality, so they turned their attention to realities which cannot be seen with eye. Music is a clear example, because it is there and you cannot see it. But also the world of spiritualism, mathematics and science. When you search on 'art and science' you will probably find some interesting literature. Kind regards, Els
Alisson asked

Hello, I would like to know the actual dimensions of the artwork 'Strahlenlinien' by Wassily Kandinsky and the technique he used. Thank you.
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

Hi Alisson,

This painting by Kandinsky is about 100cm high and 74cm wide. The artist painted this on a canvas using oil paint. You can find this, and other information, by clicking 'show all details' online.

Best,
Lisa

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Throughout his life, Kandinsky tried to achieve what he called 'absolute art'. Theosophy, a spiritual teaching of a higher cosmic reality above our visible world, was influential. In 1912, Kandinsky described in his book 'Uber das Geistige in der Kunst' how art could portray this higher absolute truth. It was important that the artist knew how to show his inner feeling. He should not concentrate on copying the world around him, this would only prove a distraction.
In order to do this in a correct, pure way, Kandinsky developed an elaborate theory of colour and shape. Each colour and each form and all possible combinations of them expressed a unique psychological value. In 1923, for example, he described the colour yellow as: warm, slightly eccentric, taking the foreground and active. In his theory, yellow had the shape of a triangle. For him, red was the colour with the greatest intensity and belonged to the square. These combinations could be freely combined, and each deviating combination introduced new expressions.

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Specifications

Title	Strahlenlinien
Material and technique	Oil on canvas
Object type	Painting > Painting > Two-dimensional object > Art object
Location	This object is travelling

Dimensions	Height 99,5 cm Width 74 cm
Artists	Artist: Wassily Kandinsky
Accession number	2681 (MK)
Credits	Purchased 1964
Department	Modern Art
Acquisition date	1964
Creation date	in 1927
Internal exhibitions	De collectie als tijdmachine (2017)
External exhibitions	Schönberg & Kandinsky. Tegendraads in kunst en muziek (2013) Boijmans bij de Buren - REMIX ROTTERDAM, Boijmans X Wereldmuseum (2020) Spirituele Urgentie (2022) Boijmans bij de Buren - Branding Rotterdam (2019) Sky Gazing (2024)
Material	Oil > Paint > Artist's material > Material > Material and technique Canvas > Worked fibres > Fibre > Vegetable material > Organic material > Material > Material and technique
Object	Painting > Painting > Two-dimensional object > Art object
Geographical origin	Russia > Eastern Europe > Europe

All about the artist

Wassily Kandinsky

Moskou 1866 - Neuilly-sur-Seine 1944

Wassily Kandinsky was of Russian origin, but lived in Munich before the First World War, where he was a member of the artist group Der Blaue Reiter. He is...

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