Movement I (Mouvement I)
Original: Oil on canvas / Presented here: Mechanical reproduction (calendar print) • Wassily Kandinsky
Style & Movement
Abstract Art / Biomorphic Abstraction (Paris Period)
Medium & Technique
The original used oil paint on canvas; this reproduction is an offset lithographic print on coated paper with a glossy finish.
Creation Period
Original created in 1935; this calendar print is contemporary (late 20th - early 21st century).
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 4 x 4 inches (reproduction); Square format.
Subject Description
A complex, non-objective composition featuring a dark background populated by floating geometric shapes, sinuous white biomorphic lines resembling smoke or organisms, and various grids. The work explores the relationship between form and color, reflecting Kandinsky’s theories on the spiritual and musical nature of visual art.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Poor (for the reproduction). The paper shows significant surface wear, creasing, and is roughly trimmed or torn from a larger calendar sheet.
Estimated Market Value
Minimal ($0 - $5). The item is a common mechanical reproduction with no secondary market value.
Auction Estimate
Not suitable for auction as a fine art lot.
Provenance History
Mass-produced item; formerly a page in a commercial wall or desk calendar. No commercial fine art provenance.
Art Historical Significance
The original painting (housed at the Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow) is significant for representing Kandinsky's transition in Paris where he moved away from the rigid geometry of his Bauhaus years toward more organic, 'biomorphic' forms influenced by biological science.
Notable Features
Features the high-key color palette and 'floating' iconographic language typical of Kandinsky’s later career in France.
Condition Issues
Visible surface abrasions, tactile damage to the glossy coating, irregular edges from being removed from a calendar, and general handling wear.
Conservation Recommendations
No professional conservation recommended due to the item being a mass-produced reproduction. If preserved for sentimental reasons, keep in an acid-free sleeve away from direct UV light.
Collector Notes
From a calendar