Vassily Kandinsky. Circles in the circle 1923.
This painting reflects his unwavering belief that certain shapes and colors represent emotions that can be coded and brought together into a whole, reflecting the unity of the universe.
Twenty-six intersecting circles of varying sizes and shades are surrounded by the black circle, several of which are connected by straight black lines. Two beams of yellow and blue light emanating from the upper corners intersect toward the center, altering the colors of the circles as they meet.
The artist states: « A circle is a combination of the most extreme opposites. Combining the eccentric and the concentric into a single shape and balancing it with another. » The black outer circle, as if it were the second image, focuses on the interaction between the inner circles, as well as two diagonal bands that intersect to enhance the effect of perspective in the composition.