Moscow II, painted by Kandinsky in 1916, is one of the finest works of his "Russian period" remaining in private hands . The turbulent events that brought the artist back to his homeland reawakened his love for his native city, which he had carried in his heart throughout his years abroad. In 1916-1917, inspired by his return, Kandinsky painted several pictures of Moscow.

This kaleidoscopic composition saturated with intense vibrancy of color embodies the beauty and dynamics of Moscow as seen by the artist. "The sun melts all Moscow into one spot which, like a mad tuba, sets one's whole inside, one's whole soul vibrating. No, this red unity is not the loveliest hour! It is only the final note of the symphony which brings every color to its greatest intensity, which lets, indeed forces, all Moscow to resound like the fff of a giant orchestra. Pink, lavender, yellow, white, blue, pistachio green, flame-red houses, churches—each an independent song—the raving green grass, the deep murmuring trees, or the snow, singing with a thousand voices, or the allegretto of the bare branches, the red, stiff, silent ring of the Kremlin walls, and above, towering over all like a cry of triumph, like a Hallelujah forgetful of itself, the long white, delicately earnest line of the Ivan Veliky Bell Tower. And upon its neck, stretched high and taut in eternal longing to the heavens, the golden head of the cupola, which is the Moscow sun amid the golden and coloured stars of the other cupolas."

In a letter to Münter, dated June 4, 1916 Kandinsky writes about his ideas for his new Moscow paintings: “I would like to paint a large landscape: gather separate elements and incorporate them on the canvas. I would blend all of them - weak and strong ones just as the world is a blend of different elements. This painting should be like an orchestra […] at 8 o’clock in the evening I went to the Kremlin to see the cathedrals in the way I want to depict them. They unfolded new treasures before my eyes.” In a few weeks he wrote to her again: “It is gradually evolving in my imagination. What was just a fancy is now taking its physical form. What this idea lacked was depth and sound, very grave, complicated and simple at the same time” (letter dated September 4, 1916). Then, after two and a half months of working on the canvas, Kandinsky writes: “You know that I cherished a dream to paint a large picture inspired by happiness, joy of life or the Universe. Suddenly, I become aware of the harmony of colors and shapes coming from this world of joy” (a letter dated November 26, 1916).

It is notable that in both paintings, Moscow I and Moscow II, in the very center we can clearly see a couple in traditional Russian dress, with their backs to the viewer, as if contemplating the magnificent symphony of the capital city together with us.

Sold at Sotheby's, London, on February 3, 2015, for $9.48 million (estimate £6–8 million).

Timeline

1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944