Artwork
Lake
Lake is an oil painting by Wassily Kandinsky. It dates from 1910 and is held in the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1910, *Lake* is an oil painting by Wassily Kandinsky that exemplifies his shift toward non‑representational composition. The canvas presents an abstracted view of water, rendered through interlocking geometric forms and a limited palette that emphasizes contrast and rhythm rather than literal depiction.
Subject & Meaning
The work abstracts the notion of a lake, using intersecting triangles, rectangles and fluid brushwork to suggest surface tension and movement. The juxtaposition of dark and light areas, alongside occasional bursts of yellow and orange, conveys a dynamic energy that invites viewers to experience the scene through sensation rather than narrative.
Technique & Style
Kandinsky employs expressive, textured brushstrokes that reveal the oil medium’s tactile quality. Geometric shapes break the surface, creating a layered composition where planes overlap and recede. The dominant use of black, white, and varying greens, punctuated by warm accents, underscores his early exploration of color as an autonomous element.
History & Provenance
Born in Moscow in 1866, Kandinsky began formal training in Munich at age thirty, studying with Anton Ažbe and later at the Academy of Fine Arts. By the time he painted *Lake*, he was already contributing to the emerging movement toward abstract, non‑objective art. The painting is presently part of the Tretyakov Gallery’s collection in Moscow.
Artist & collection
Artist
Wassily Wassilyevich Kandinsky (16 December 1866 – 13 December 1944) was a Russian painter and art theorist active in Germany during the late Belle Époque and Interwar eras.
