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What artistic goals did Wassily Kandinsky and Der Blaue Reiter pursue?

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Wassily Kandinsky: Painting with Green Center — Wassily Kandinsky *Painting with Green Center*, oil on canvas by Wassily Kandinsky, 1913; in the Art Institute of Chicago.

Wassily Kandinsky and the artists of Der Blaue Reiter were united by a shared commitment to free experimentation and the pursuit of deep spiritual expression in art. Rather than following a rigid program, the group sought to imbue their work with profound spiritual content and give form to mystical feelings through their creative output.1

Their artistic approach was characterized by lyrical abstraction, which distinguished them from other expressionist groups of the time. By embracing this style, they aimed to move beyond representational art, ultimately helping to lay the essential groundwork for the development of abstract art and future avant-garde experimentation. Their vision was further supported by an interest in diverse influences, including folk art, Cubism, and Futurism, which they synthesized to explore new visual languages.1