The Beginings of an Abstract painting

Ovaj diplomski rad se bavi povijesnim počecima apstraktne umjetnosti čiji su začetnici Kazimir Maljevič i Vasilij Kandinski. U prvom djelu rada dana je analiza njihovog umjetničkog stvaralaštva. Njihov opus je ovdje podijeljen u dva djela, onoga prije nastanka apstraktne umjetnosti i nakon. Rad analizira pojedina djela ova dva autora te se osvrće na neke čimbenike koji imaju znatan utjecaj na njih. Pokušava dati pregled nekih od intelektualnih, kulturnih i društvenih strujanja onog vremena. To je bilo vrijeme snažnih duhovnih traganja u Rusiji. 19. stoljeće iznjedrilo je velike ruske pisce čije će traganje za istinom i spasom ostaviti neizbrisiv trag. Dolazi do novih znanstvenih otkrića, okultna literatura i promišljanja cvjetaju, a među njima su najrasprostranjenija teozofska učenja. Cjelokupno društvo se nalazi na pragu tradicionalnog i modernog, a religijsku tradiciju se preispituje. Vrijeme je to kada je čovjek više nego ikada prije usamljen u traganju za smislom i odgovorima. Sve to odrazit će se na umjetnost. Maljevič i Kandinski kroz slikarstvo će pokušati dati odgovore svom vremenu. Ovaj rad usmjerava se na specifičnosti ruske kulture te njenog utjecaja na ova dva umjetnika. Rad nastoji pokazati kako je religijsko mišljenje implicitno Rusima. U analizi toga pomoći će djelo ruskog filozofa Nikolaja Berđajeva. Osim toga rad će se osvrnuti i na koncept ikone te pokušati dokučiti njen značaj za moderno slikarstvo. Analiza ikone u slikarskom smislu može pružiti neke od najdubljih uvida, svojevrstan duhovni putokaz u dubine ruske duše.This master’s thesis deals with the historical beginnings of abstract art, whose founders are Kazimir Maljević and Wassily Kandinsky. In the first part of the work, an analysis of their artistic creativity is given. Their bodies of work are divided here into two parts, the one before the creation of abstract art and the one after. The paper analyses individual works of these two artists and looks back at some of the factors that had a significant influence on them. It strives to give an overview of some of the intellectual, cultural and social currents of that time. It was a time of strong spiritual quests in Russia. The 19th century produced great Russian writers whose search for truth and salvation will leave an indelible mark. New scientific discoveries are made, occult literature and reflections flourish, and among them theosophical teachings are the most widespread. The entire society is on the threshold between traditional and modern, and religious tradition is being questioned. It is a time when man is more alone than ever before in his search for meaning and answers. All this will be reflected in the art. Through painting, Maljević and Kandinsky will try to give answers to their era. This thesis focuses on the specifics of Russian culture and its influence on these two artists. The paper tries to show how religious thinking is implicit to Russians. The work of the Russian philosopher Nikolai Berdyaev will help in analysing this. In addition, the paper will look at the concept of the icon painting and try to understand its significance for modern painting. The analysis of the icon in the painting sense can provide some of the deepest insights, a kind of spiritual guide to the depths of the Russian soul