Beruhigt (Calmed) (1931)

This painting by Wassily Kandinsky titled "Beruhigt" (Calmed) from 1931 is a captivating example of his abstract and geometric style. The composition is structured around a collection of bold shapes and lines, and its color palette mixes both soothing and vibrant hues.The painting features a large blue semicircle, which dominates the left side of the canvas, underlain by a beige background that varies in intensity and color saturation. To the right of the semicircle, various geometric forms overlap and interact. Notable among these are rectangles filled with deep reds and bright oranges, juxtaposed against thin, straight black lines that pierce through these warmer colors, adding a sense of dynamic tension.On the right side of the canvas, adjacent to the central cluster, there is a more sparse arrangement of shapes, including a small circle atop a rectangular structure that resembles a bucket or pot. This simple figure contrasts with the complexity of the central motif.Beneath these main elements, at the bottom right, lies a solitary horizontal rectangle, segmented into stripes of black, red, and yellow. This piece, set apart from the central activity, could be interpreted as bringing a grounding element to the otherwise floaty and dynamic composition.Kandinsky, a pioneer of abstract art, often aimed to evoke emotions and ideas through such arrangements of form and color.