Comparative Study

Parker Matel

This comparative study will focus on analyzing four separate artworks: Composition VII,
Yellow-Red-Blue, Time, and Longing by Wassily Kandinsky and local artist Rosie Hartmann. They share
many characteristics such as their use of color to convey mood and feelings in their works and their
abstract painting style to evoke feelings, thoughts, and emotions while observing their work. Though their
styles are somewhat similar, their themes are very different. Kandinsky's works were produced in the
early twentieth century until his death in 1944. The focus of his theme was to visually express music
through abstract painting. Hartmann is a modern artist with a focus on using her abstract paintings to
compliment her photography.
Wassily Kandinsky
Wassily Kandinsky is a Russian abstract expressionist painter who worked in the
early to mid twentieth century. He has been considered the pioneer of modern
abstract art. As a child he had a strong connection to sound and color which
influenced his art even throughout his professional art career. Many of his works
reflect his experimentation with the relationship between color and form to convey
feelings that are universal to all members of the audience. He chose to use an
abstract style of painting in order to avoid using symbols or subject matters that
some observers might not understand. Through abstraction he was able to paint
without any physical or cultural confinements to connect to all people.

The theme of many of his works focus on the connection between sound and
visual art. He believed that he could paint a picture of music through the use of
color, form, and space. He painted with the goal of having the viewer experience
the music in mind. He wanted everyone to experience the same emotions and
feelings when they look at his work similar to how music can create a universal
feeling amongst the listeners. With this in mind, the success of his work heavily
relied on the responses of the public to the art.
http://www.theartstory.org/artist-kandinsky-wassily.htm
Formal qualities of Composition VII
Color
Kandinsky uses many contrasting Pattern/Repetition
warm and cool colors scattered There is a repetition and pattern of
throughout the piece. These color throughout the piece between
contrasts bring the focus to certain the three primary colors. This
forms in this work such as the repetition causes a chaotic
organic dark blue form just off movement throughout the piece
center while the pattern resembles the
Form structure of music.
Organic forms are used within the
work in order to keep the emotions Composition
universally relatable. Although they The majority of the composition is
are all organic and have no focused in the center of the piece.
detailed symbols, there are some Everything merges in the center
shapes that resemble known creating a conflict between the
objects such as the lines that colors and forms within.
resemble a string instrument and
the symbol similar to the flat
Composition VII by Wassily Kandinski
symbol in music. ()
Interpretive Analysis of Composition VII

Composition VII is an attempt by Kandinsky to communicate

sound visually. It is similar to a musical composition through
the repetition and pattern of shapes and hues throughout the
piece. By using the organic shapes and colors, Kandinsky is
able to cause certain feelings, such as excitement in the
chaotic center, to be provoked in the observer. By avoiding
cultural and traditional music confinements, he is able to
break language and communication barriers that would
normally change the outcome of what the observer
experiences. The one point perspective style of the painting
creates a depth that can almost make the viewer feel slightly
overwhelmed much like how music can feel when there are
multiple sounds coming together. The depth and contrast Composition VII by Wassily Kandinski
also exemplifies the flow and movement of musical
compositions.
Yellow - Red - Blue Formal Qualities
Color
The majority of this piece consists of the primary colors and
some secondary colors where the primaries blend. The use
of color almost divides the piece in half.
Shape
The use of geometric shapes gives the piece a sense of
unity. The shapes are used to create the two focal points, the
rectangular door and the dark mass of shapes to the right.
Line
There is a contrast in his use of line. Both geometric line and
organic lines are used in the piece as seen in the circular
and straight lines scattered throughout the piece and the
thick dark line protruding from the collision of shapes.
Balance
There is an even balance in the piece. The asymmetrical
balance of the piece almost allows the piece to be divided
into two sections. The right has a heavy focus on the
colliding red and blue figures while the left is focused on the Yellow- Red- Blue by Wassily Kandinski
illuminated yellow rectangle that resembles a door.
Yellow - Red - Blue Interpretive Analysis

This piece has two major focal points, the dark cluster of
shapes and the bright rectangular doorway. Kandinsky
produced this piece in 1925 while in Germany. Post World
War I, the German people were struggling due to the
sanctions placed upon them. The dark cluster of shapes and
the bright yellow doorway could be a representation of the
mood of Germany at the time and seeing a glimmer of hope
in the darkness. The pieces right side is colliding which
could represent disaster or conflict while the yellow rectangle
with open space represents the solution to the disaster. The
whole piece produces the feeling of hope when even though
there is some sort of conflict occurring.
Yellow- Red- Blue by Wassily Kandinski
Rosie Hartmann

Rosie Hartmann is a lifelong photographer from Milwaukee that decided

to try her hand in abstract painting. Her focus for her photography and
later mixed media works was to capture a single moment by preserving it
in art. She has worked closely with the Alzheimers Association which
influenced the theme of her work to revolve around memory and
preserving memories. Photography was her primary medium until 2011.
She had felt as though her photography wasnt quite enough and that
something was missing so she began using acrylic and watercolor paint in
order to stronger capture the emotions and feelings she had experienced
when capturing the photograph. Through digital manipulation of her
photographs and abstract painting, Rosie Hartmann is able to convey
both the physical image and the emotions and feelings behind her http://www.rosiehartmann.com/
experiences.
 Time Formal Qualities
Balance
This piece is asymmetrical with the balance being between
the painted clock and the photograph of the girl. There are 3
main focuses in this piece; fading girl, clock, time. 3
Color
The colors in Time are very washed out or faded. The low
intensity adds to the aging or weathering effect of the
painting. The lighter background also increases the focus on
the 3 main points.
Texture 2
The background looks as though it is burning or weathering. 1
The texture is crinkled and falling apart which creates a
depth with layers.
Space
The layers of the image create a sense of depth in the work.
It gives some implied space between the focal points. The
clock is clearly in focus making it the foreground. The fading
Time by Rosie Hartmann
image of the girl is the middle ground while the time behind
the torn out part of the image is the background.
Time Interpretive Analysis

Rosie Hartmanns Time is focused on suffering

deterioration of memory. The subject matter in the
work represent the passing of time through the large
clock in the foreground and the time placed in the
background. The theme is further demonstrated
through the deteriorating texture and the fading
image of the girl. The texture is falling apart as
though the memory will soon be forgotten and the
image is fading away. The photos in Rosie
Hartmanns works are the record of memory and the
manipulation of fading the image further supports the
theme of losing your memory over time.

Time by Rosie Hartmann

Longing Formal Qualities
Line
Line is used in the background painting. Dripping
dark lines of paint create horizontal lines across
the piece. The dripping creates a spooky sense of
misery.
Shape
Organic shapes are created by the overlaid
photograph. The designs within the structure itself
contrast with the dripping straight lines.
Color
There is a strong contrast between the red
background and the dark line and photograph. The
reds represent anger are pain while the dark hues
represent the negative or hard times one can be in
when they are longing or waiting for something to
happen. With these combines emotions there is
unity throughout the work.
Repetition
The dripping of black lines is very uniform as they Longing by Rosie Hartmann
are in the same direction. This is very different
from the overlaid image as the photograph has
nearly sporadically moving line design.
Longing Interpretive Analysis

Longing is about the negative feelings that come

with waiting for something good to happen. The
reds represent the anger or pain of waiting for too
long while the dark dripping and sporadically
moving lines represent the sadness and
depression that often goes with longing. The
highlights in the photograph have a strong contrast
from the rest of the work. It is much brighter and it
represents the hope. Longing for something
involves having hope that it will happen. It is a
distraction from all the negative feelings.

Longing by Rosie Hartmann

 Comparisons and Connections (Cultural Context)

Composition VII Yellow - Red - Blue Time Longing

- Created in 1913 - Created in 1925 - Created in 2016 - Created in 2016
- Painted by a - Painted in Germany - Created by a woman - Produced in a
conductor giving it - Considered an who had begun to modern culture
many musical abstract painting feel time fly where we always
qualities though not from the - A mother raising kids want something and
- A form of abstract art abstract art may not always get it
though not from the movement - Abstract expression
abstract art
movement
Comparisons and Connections (Cultural Context)
The context of all of these pieces are very different
with there being nearly a century between the two
artists work periods. Although the gap in time is
quite large, the theme of portraying universal
emotion is shared between the artists and their
works. Both attempted to use abstract art in order to
convey feelings such as pain, hope, and interest.

Wassily Kandinskys paintings focused on producing

a universal understanding amongst his audience.
He did this by avoiding the use of cultural or
traditional symbols in his communication.

Hartmanns works are more focused on memories

and their associated emotions. She wanted to
capture the totality of a photograph by combining
her painting and photography.
 Comparisons and Connections (Formal Qualities &
Significance) Yellow - Red - Blue
- Two different color
Composition VII schemes and values
- Strong use of - Creates two different
numerous hues images that come
provides a holistic together to create a
image and story cohesive picture
much like a musical - Created via both
composition organic and
- Many flowing and geometric shapes in
organic forms creates dark and light, cold
images of a melody and warm colors
respectively.
Time Longing
- The dull colors and a - This piece is full of
fading gradient abstraction which
throughout the piece forces the observer
provides feeling of to think about the use
aging of color and design
- This aging and fading - The red and dark
adds to the overall dripping hues
theme of memories provokes negative
and how they change emotions while the
and are lost over very little light colors
time. are a small taste of
positivity or hope
Comparisons and Connections (formal qualities and
significance)
Both Rosie Hartmann and Wassily Kandinsky have
a strong use of color which is essential for their
conveying of emotion. Although Kandinsky tends to
use very vibrant hues and Hartmann more dull
hues, they use the color to depict emotions and
feelings that the observer is able to relate to.

Kandinsky uses much more forms and shapes in

order to communicate to the audience such as his
combination of organic and geometric shapes come
together to create unity in the intended emotions he
wished to portray.

Hartmann much more focused on the use of texture

in her works to convey memories and their
emotions. The dripping and weathering textures
help to further develop the understanding of the
work much like what shape and form did for
Kandinsky.
Sources
Hartmann, Rosie. Rosie Hartmann. October 10 2017 http://www.rosiehartmann.com/

The Art Contributor. Wassily Kandinsky. October 10 2017 http://www.theartstory.org/artist-kandinsky-wassily.htm

Composition VII October 10 2017 http://www.wassilykandinsky.net/work-36.php

Yellow - Red - Blue October 10 2017 http://totallyhistory.com/yellow-red-blue/