In art, abstraction refers to the use of simplified or distorted forms to represent reality. This can be done for a variety of reasons, including to emphasize the formal qualities of the work, to reduce an image to its essential elements, or to create an emotional response in the viewer. While abstraction is found in all mediums, it is particularly common in painting and sculpture. In many cases, abstract artists seek to express their deepest thoughts and feelings through their work, rather than simply depicting the world around them. Therefore, abstraction can be a very personal form of expression. At the same time, it can also be used to create works of universal significance, offering viewers a new way of seeing the world.

The use of abstraction was employed by artists such as Kandinsky, Hilma af Klint, Delaunay and Mondrian, who sought to capture the essential qualities of their subjects without the burden of unnecessary detail. For Kandinsky, abstraction was a means of accessing the spiritual world; he believed that certain colours and shapes could evoke specific emotions in viewers as we see in Yellow-Red-Blue. Hilma af Klint took a similar approach, using geometric shapes to create otherworldly images that reflected her interest in the occult with her works Altarpiece No 1 and Altarpiece No 2. Delaunay and Mondrian, on the other hand, used abstraction as a means to bring order to their paintings with Air, Iron and Water, Study and Composition A. By simplifying their compositions and reducing them to their essential elements, they were able to create works that were both visually arresting and intellectually stimulating. Although each artist had a unique approach to abstraction, they all shared a belief in its ability to convey ideas and emotions in a direct and powerful way.

Interested in buying reproductions of paintings by Vassily Kandinsky? Discover all our high quality reproductions by Galerie Mont-Blanc. We also offer reproductions of paintings by Piet Mondrian and reproductions of paintings by Hilma De Klint.