Improvisation 30 (Cannons) by Wassily Kandinsky

This exciting scene features two cannons firing right across the composition in an explosive setting. This was a part of Kandinsky's improvisation series that allowed him to express himself in an abstract world.

He would use bright tones of colour that would cover the canvas from top to bottom. He studied the use of colour in different combinations and would also release his own publications later in his career. The palette is fairly consistent throughout his improvisations, but the content alters. That said, most feature sprawling landscapes with rolling hills, sometimes with an abundance of Russian-styled rooftops jutting up into the sky. Kandinsky loved to challenge convention but did so in a planned manner, although his wild compositions appear entirely unplanned and spontaneous to those unfamiliar with his career development.

Within the composition itself we find groups of people and several leaning buildings. Whilst much appears to be unplanned, from his subconscious, there are still elements that can be understood, almost like the Surrealist approach used by the likes of Dali, Magritte and Ernst. The painting was sold to a Chicago lawyer which perhaps explains how it has now ended up in this city as part of the collection of theThe Art Institute of Chicago. Many collectors over the years have generously donated their work to local galleries, or perhaps offered long loans without charge in order to allow as many people to see each item as possible. Others unfortunately are not quite as generous and can regard these artworks as more of an investment opportunity.

The painting can be found in the collection of the The Art Institute of Chicago in the US. Most of the other components of this improvisation series remain in public art galleries and museums in the city of Munich, Germany. This incredible location boasts over 300,000 items in its collection, covering a breadth of interest to cover most tastes. In terms of highlights within the painting genre, you will most likely be interested in works such as Georges Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, Pablo Picasso's The Old Guitarist, Edward Hopper's Nighthawks, and Grant Wood's American Gothic, although it is worth checking online to get a wider understanding of what else they have to offer. You can also find a total of 23 artworks (including Houses at Murnau, 1909, Painting with Troika, 1911 and Landscape with Two Poplars, 1912) from Kandinsky here too, making it one of the larger collections of his work outside of Europe.