Mit dem schwarzen Bogen

Having broken through into abstraction the previous year, Kandinsky produced the masterful Mit dem Schwarzen Bogen (Picture with a Black Arch), seeking to strengthen the construction of his compositions. The mass of three colored clouds is crossed by a large black symbol, which is reminiscent of the instrument used to yoke a Russian troika sleigh, called the douga, an essential component of any harness. At the same time as this dynamic arc collides with the languid colored spots, its triangular form allows it to hold the three isolated blocks together, reflecting its original purpose. By bringing into opposition the line and the spot, the hard and the soft, the real world and the dialog of forms, Kandinsky created one of his most unique compositions, which he took with him into exile in Paris.