Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Literature, Art and Human Development (ICLAHD 2025)

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Gestalt Theory, Theosophy, Music, and Abstract Painting: Kandinsky and Wagner

Authors
Dong Yang1, *
1Henan University of Economics and Law, Zhengzhou, 475001, Henan, China
*Corresponding author. Email: yangdong020810@126.com
Corresponding Author
Dong Yang
Available Online 31 December 2025.
DOI
10.2991/978-2-38476-511-9_37How to use a DOI?
Keywords
spiritual origins; Gestalt theory; Theosophy; non-figurative experimentation; non-objective space
Abstract

The artistic spirit of early abstractionism originated from Gestalt psychology, Theosophy, and Symbolism, emphasizing the psychological analysis of “pure visibility” and abstract language. The rhythmic lines and tension in Kandinsky’s abstract paintings reflect aesthetic perceptions akin to Gestalt theory, while also being influenced by Theosophical and Symbolist aesthetics-including mandala elements as symbols of Jung’s collective unconscious. The rhythm and dynamism of abstract lines were inspired by Wagnerian music, manifesting as visual tension and musical structure akin to a graphic score. Kandinsky and Klee translated musical lyricism into visual rhythms through improvisation, prioritizing the creation of a spiritual atmosphere. Their non-figurative experiments engaged the “principle of inner necessity,” transitioning from representational to non-objective space, employing geometric structures to achieve rhythmic spatiality and ultimately forming an abstract artistic truth. Overall, Kandinsky’s work fused music and painting to explore the spiritual expression of non-representational art.

Copyright
© 2025 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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Volume Title
Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Literature, Art and Human Development (ICLAHD 2025)
Series
Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research
Publication Date
31 December 2025
ISBN
978-2-38476-511-9
ISSN
2352-5398
DOI
10.2991/978-2-38476-511-9_37How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2025 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

Cite this article

risenwbib
TY  - CONF
AU  - Dong Yang
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/12/31
TI  - Gestalt Theory, Theosophy, Music, and Abstract Painting: Kandinsky and Wagner
BT  - Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Literature, Art and Human Development (ICLAHD 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 323
EP  - 330
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-511-9_37
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-511-9_37
ID  - Yang2025
ER  -