Svendsen L.A. Vasily Kandinsky painting on glass: Anniversary exhibition. Stadtische Galerie in Munich

New York: Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, 1996. — 57 p.A hundred years ago, on December 4, 1866, Vasily Kandinskv was born in Moscow. The Guggenheim Museum as one of the principal depositories of Kandinskv's work therefore wishes to join in the world-wide tributes offered to this great pioneer of modern painting. Since the retrospective held here as recently as 1963 precludes a comprehensive treatment of Kandinsky's oeuvre. the illumination of a particular aspect has been decided upon as a suitable alternative.
The German term "Hinterglasmalerei" describes the subject better than any attempted English translation could. Dissolved into its components Hinterglasmalerei means painting applied to the back surface of a glass pane. It means further that the painted surface sealed opaquelv from behind, projects itself forward through the transparent glass which is often held within an elaborate frame upon which the artist may lavish his decorative care. There is no need here to describe Hinterglasmalerei further, since Dr. Hans Konrad Röthel does so in this catalogue — the first devoted to this precious and delightful aspect of Kandinsky's art.
The Museum's gratitude toward Dr. Röthel however should be recorded here. As Director of the Städtische Galerie in Munich he has custody of the largest extant number of Kandinsky's Hinterglasmalereien, and his generous loan, therefore, made possible the first presentation of this phase in Kandinsky's work in the United States. Together with his Assistant, Dr. Erika Hanfstaengl, Dr. Röthel also provided the valuable documentation published in the following pages for the first time.
The exhibition, however, would be restricted to contributions from a single source had not Mme. Nina Kandinsky, the artist's widow, graciously lent the four works in this medium that remain in her hands. These were added to other valuable loans from Herr Dr. Beck, Frau Annemarie Rose, an anonymous collector as well as The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum's own single glass work.