Traveling in Europe

Following Kandinsky across Europe

Vassily Kandinsky and his students at the Phalanx School before the "work on the motif" in Kochel Vassily Kandinsky and his students at the Phalanx School before the "work on the motif" in Kochel (1902) by Münter, GabrieleCentre Pompidou

In 1902, Phalanx opened a painting school. Kandinsky taught painting and drawing there.  During his first summer class in Kochel, at the foot of the Bavarian Alps, he met Gabriele Münter who would become his mistress.

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Kochel street (1902) by AnonymousCentre Pompidou

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Nina and Vassily Kandinsky at the beach in Hendaye (1929) by AnonymousCentre Pompidou

In 1928, Kandinsky and his wife Nina finally obtained German nationality, which they had requested many years earlier. Thanks to their new passports, they could now travel abroad much more easily. And so, in 1929, the couple left for a holiday in France, in Hendaye.

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Vassily, Nina Kandinsky and Paul Klee on the promenade in Hendaye Vassily, Nina Kandinsky and Paul Klee on the promenade in Hendaye (1929) by AnonymousCentre Pompidou

They spent their holidays with Paul Klee and his wife Lily Klee, who were their neighbors at Dessau Bauhaus.  

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Vassily Kandinsky in front of Saint Mark's Basilica in Venice Vassily Kandinsky in front of Saint Mark's Basilica in Venice (1930) by AnonymousCentre Pompidou

Kandinsky spent many holidays in Italy, initially as a child with his family, and then later with Gabriele Münter. 

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In 1930, when the situation, particularly vis-à-vis the elected officials of Dessau, became untenable for Bauhaus, Kandinsky returned to Italy with his wife Nina and spent time in Venice..  

Nina Kandinsky at the edge of Lake Garda Nina Kandinsky at the edge of Lake Garda (1930) by AnonymousCentre Pompidou

Their trip to Italy took Vassily and Nina Kandinsky to the banks of Lake Garda. 

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