Wassily Kandinsky - Group in Crinolines
Group in Crinolines (Reifrockgesellschaft)
Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944), while recognized as one of the founders of abstract art, also painted figurative scenes and depictions of social life in the early stages of his career. Group in Crinolines (Reifrockgesellschaft) is one of his notable works from the years before he turned to abstraction, depicting an aristocratic social scene with vibrant colors and a decorative approach.
The composition depicts a group scene of women in wide crinoline skirts and elegantly dressed figures. The figures appear gathered in an open-air setting or a garden atmosphere. Here, instead of detailed portrait realism, Kandinsky emphasizes the overall atmosphere of the scene with dynamic brushstrokes and bright color fields. The energetic use of red, blue, yellow, and green tones makes the movement and social interaction of the figures more vivid.
Group in Crinolines reveals the decorative color scheme and scene composition seen in Kandinsky's early paintings. This work is an important transitional piece that foreshadows the abstract language the artist would develop in later years, evident in his use of color and rhythm.
Detail
- Artist: Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944)
- Title of Work: Group in Crinolines (Reifrockgesellschaft)
( Crinoline Group ) - Date of work: Circa 1909
- Technique: Oil on canvas
- Dimensions: Approximate dimensions
- Signature: “Kandinsky”
- Location: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York


