Artists of the 20th Century: Wassily Kandinsky

Arts & Activities, Jan, 2005 by Barbara Herberholz

Artists of the 20th Century: WASSILY KANDINSKY. DVD/50 min./ $19.95. Level: High School and Above. Kultur International Films Ltd., Inc., 195 Highway 36, West Long Branch, NJ 07764, www.kultur.com.

This Russian artist's paintings heralded abstract painting and a large number of them are shown in brilliant color in this DVD. Viewers travel with him in his quest for new forms and uses of color, from his earlier works, which are seen as both abstract and figurative, to the extremes of geometric abstractions with sharply etched contours and definitive patterns. Images are shown full screen. The viewer may access the chapter selections by pressing the MENU key on the remote control to take a look at 10 different chapters, starting with his early Russian years and on to others which include the Impressionist influence, the Phalanx group, the Archer, his German years, his compositions, black patterns, and so on.-B.H. For information about this program, circle No. 396 on the Reader Service Card.