Wassily Kandinsky was a Russian artist, theorist, and musician, born in Moscow in 1866. His belief contrasted the typical perception of art, for he perceived art through a spiritual and musical lens. He was a proud, emphatic leader of the abstract art movement in the 1900s. Through his works and ideas, he changed the foundation of art in the 1900s and beyond, forming the basis for modern art. ((Wassily Kandinsky, On the Spiritual in Art, 1912)) Inspired by Monet and other painters of the time period, he sought to convince artists that they had a mission to convey a deeper message in their works. ((Wassily Kandinsky, On the Spiritual in Art, 1912)) Kandinsky discusses in his introduction that artists should not create their work to fulfill an objective, as he says: “The artist seeks material reward for his skill, his power of invention, or vision.” ((Wassily Kandinsky, On the Spiritual in Art, 1912)) Instead, he says, they should create work to fulfill a deeper meaning through a spiritual message. As artists, they have significant power. He also criticizes museum audiences for simply taking an interest in paintings for their beauty but not analyzing them for spiritual meaning.

There are many different types of artists. There are the artists who paint for reward, there are artists who paint for passion, and there are artists like Kandinsky who paint to convey deep messages. Kadinsky, a musician, believed in not putting too much detail in his paintings; he sought to portray spirituality more, such as emotion and feeling. It’s interesting how music and art can be related. I feel like this day in age, as a result of painters such as Kandinsky, young painters who have deep thoughts seek to convey those thoughts and emotions through art. With so many social, political, and economic issues going on in the world today, people establish beliefs on these issues, and as a result many of them paint to convey their beliefs. On the other hand, many individuals paint based on their individual feelings and their perceptions of the world and seek to share their feelings with the world. Art has an effect on people, as it stimulates people’s minds and allows them to relate to artists and think critically. But let me ask you this: how much of an effect does it have? Do people this day in age–me and you, how much do we care about art?