Draft for Picture with White Form by Wassily Kandinsky, 1913

Draft for ‘Picture with White Form’ (1913) by Wassily Kandinsky captures a decisive moment in early modernism, when the Russian-born pioneer was steering painting toward pure abstraction. Made in 1913, just before the upheaval of World War I, this preparatory work reveals how Kandinsky developed compositions through carefully staged studies rather than casual sketches. Its dynamic interplay of bold color, urgent line, and rhythmic movement embodies his conviction that painting could express inner experience—spirituality, music, and emotion—without relying on visible subject matter.

This fine art print is faithfully reproduced on your choice of acid-free archival paper or artist’s cotton canvas, preserving the vibrancy and nuance of the original. Available in a range of sizes with optional framing, your piece arrives ready to display—or tailored to your space with custom matting, borders, and orientation. The Unique Maps Co. also offers personalization and customization, so you can add a dedication, adjust proportions, or coordinate finishes to suit your interior.

Kandinsky is celebrated as one of the leading figures of abstract art, coalescing ideas that reshaped 20th-century painting. Around this time he was associated with avant‑garde circles in Munich and helped define a new visual language rooted in color harmonies and compositional cadence. He often described resonances between color and sound, a sensibility that infuses his work with a musical sense of tempo and tone.

This draft is notable because it illuminates process: you can feel the artist solving the composition in real time. Instead of depicting a scene, Kandinsky orchestrates forces—curves countered by diagonals, clustered motifs offset by open breathing spaces. The result is a visual equilibrium that hints at a luminous “white form” within a field of activity, an idea he would refine in a final canvas. Seen against the experimental climate of pre‑war Europe, the work marks a radical rethinking of what a picture could be.

The palette sings with deep blues, radiant yellows, and fresh greens, keyed with flashes of red and stabilized by dark, calligraphic lines. Sweeping arcs, angular accents, and layered transparencies create a sense of lift and inward pressure, as if the composition inhales and exhales. The tension between cool blues and warm yellows lends both clarity and vibration, while the central lightness draws the eye and anchors the whole—qualities that make this print a sophisticated focal point in contemporary, minimalist, or eclectic interiors.

A thoughtful gift for admirers of modern art and design, this piece suits birthdays, housewarmings, Mother’s or Father’s Day, Christmas, or to surprise someone who loves Kandinsky’s era of innovation. It’s an elegant choice for anyone who appreciates the expressive power of color and the thrill of seeing an artist’s vision take shape.

If you're not sure what size to order, or you're looking for a custom order of some kind – a different size, a different colour, a special frame – then please contact me. I usually respond within a few minutes.

You can see an example of my fine art personalisation service in the fifth image. Zoom in and take a look. My personalised artwork is always very well received. Take a look at more examples of personalisation.

You can also choose to age your art print to make it look older. This is popular amongst my customers who want their artwork to look like an older, antique print. You can see an example of ageing in the sixth product image, or go ahead and check out lots of examples of other aged artwork.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this art print.

I can print and frame this beautiful piece of art at sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). If you are looking for a size or framing option that isn't available online, please get in touch.

This artwork is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. My standard frames come in six colours (black, dark brown, dark grey, antique gold, oak and white), and custom framing is available for an additional charge. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.