Description
Panel for Edwin R. Campbell No. 2 is a painting by Wassily Kandinsky from 1914: on a warm ochre and yellow ground, a long, near-black mass stretches across the upper half, and a large, pale curving form sweeps upwards at the lower right. The original belongs to the Museum of Modern Art. We make it as a hand-painted reproduction in oil on canvas, in six sizes or made to measure, and before dispatch you receive a photograph of the finished work to approve.
| Title: | Panel for Edwin R. Campbell No. 2 |
| Other titles: | Paneel für Edwin R. Campbell Nr. 2 |
| Painter: | Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944) |
| Year: | 1914 |
| Original size: | 122.7 cm x 162.6 cm |
| Original technique: | Oil on canvas |
| Available sizes: | six sizes from 60 x 80 cm to 120 x 160 cm |
| Location: | Museum of Modern Art (inv. no. 298.1983) |
| Our reproduction: | hand-painted oil on canvas, made to measure on request |
Panel for Edwin R. Campbell No. 2 – Wassily Kandinsky
What can be seen in the painting?
The ground is warm, a mix of ochre, yellow and orange, and thick strokes of colour press closely together across it. At the upper left is a dark oval with a yellow-green crescent inside, framed in wine red and green. Pale arcs of white, blue, pink and ochre sweep along the top. At the upper right, red and pink strokes rise beside a thin red line. Left of centre a long, near-black mass with a lumpy upper edge stretches to the right; its lower rim is dotted with flecks of yellow, pink and green, and beneath it on the right lie deep red and green lobes and a patch of strong blue. Along the left edge stand dark blue wedges. The centre is a broad yellow field with a small green circle, and to its left a pale blue patch is cut by short, black, jagged strokes. Below the middle a white shape with rounded lobes is drawn over with dark lines, and to its left opens a fan of black, spiky strokes. At the lower left, near-black and deep green masses curl inside a light green outline. The lower right holds a large, curving pale form streaked with pink, cream and pale blue and edged by a speckled blue-white fringe, and dark grey-green strokes close the corner.
Dark mass, warm light
This panel is dense and warm. The dark mass across the upper half acts like a heavy roof, and the large pale curve at the lower right answers it, so the eye glides from the top down through the yellow centre to the bottom corner. The strong contrasts of near-black against yellow and ochre give the surface weight, while the white and pale blue passages let the light in. Short jagged strokes alternate with broad smooth ones, keeping the rhythm lively across the whole panel. The broad yellow centre gives the eye a place to rest before it moves on. Almost no spot is left empty. On the wall it brings warmth and depth: the longer you look, the more colours emerge from the dark.
About the painting
Kandinsky painted it in 1914. The original is 162.6 cm high and 122.7 cm wide and belongs to the Museum of Modern Art (inv. no. 298.1983). On this page we give the width first, so the original reads 122.7 x 162.6 cm here. Our painter works from a public-domain photograph of the original, so the subject can be carried faithfully onto the canvas, from the arrangement of the forms to the individual shades of colour.
How is our hand-painted version made?
The painter works from a high-resolution reference and builds the painting up in layers, with brush and oil paint. First the arrangement of the main forms is sketched in thin paint, then the colours go on layer by layer, from the large areas down to the smallest details. The edges of the forms and the transitions between colours are compared with the reference until the proportions match. An oil painting reproduction keeps its colours for many years, because oil does not fade the way a print does. Since every reproduction is made individually, no two copies match down to the last detail; the subject, the proportions and the colours do. Depending on the size, painting takes several days, and the paint then needs enough time to dry before the canvas is packed.
Hand-painted, not printed
You can see the difference between a print and a hand-painted canvas as soon as you look at the work from the side: the brushstrokes form a slight relief that shows in raking light and can be felt with the fingertips. Whether it is a landscape, a figurative subject or an abstract painting, every shade is mixed on the palette and applied by hand. Before dispatch we photograph the finished work and send you the photograph to approve, so you know exactly what you will receive. Only when you are happy does it go on its way. Small irregularities in the brushwork are not flaws but the trace of the hand that painted it, and they are exactly what makes each copy one of a kind.
Which interior suits it?
The warm, saturated colours make the painting glow, so it looks good in a living room or dining room, next to natural wood and quiet furniture. It works best on a light, neutral wall; next to other very colourful works on the same wall the colours would drown each other out. Hang it with its centre at about eye level, roughly 150 cm from the floor; above a sofa or sideboard, leave a gap of 20 to 30 cm. In a bedroom a medium size above the bed works well, and in a hallway or on a narrow wall a smaller size hung at eye level.
Which size for which wall?
As a painting for the living room it works best at 80 x 110 and 89 x 116 cm, where the details come into their own. The 60 x 80 and 70 x 90 cm sizes suit the wall above a desk or a hallway, and 110 x 140 and 120 x 160 cm a large wall above a sofa or in an entrance hall. All six sizes are listed in the size selector; the price depends on the size you choose. A simple rule helps: above a sofa or a sideboard the painting looks best at about two thirds of the furniture’s width, and on an empty wall choose a size that leaves at least 30 to 40 cm of free wall on each side.
Custom sizes, stretcher and frame
If none of the sizes fits your wall, we paint this Kandinsky reproduction to your measurements; that is our painting made to measure, and we tell you how the composition adapts to the new proportions. Every canvas is stretched on a wooden stretcher. A frame is optional and not included in the base price. If you would like a frame, the best choice for this work is a narrow natural or dark wooden frame, because it calms and holds the colours together, while a wide, ornate gold frame would compete with the painter’s colours.
Delivery and guarantee
Because every painting on canvas is painted only after you order, in our studio in Slovenia, allow 15 to 45 days depending on the size you choose. We ship protected, insured and tracked, within the EU without customs. If anything is wrong on arrival, get in touch and we will put it right. All our works by Kandinsky are collected in the Wassily Kandinsky gallery, and the painter is introduced in our article about Wassily Kandinsky. Related works we paint include Red Spot II, White Cross and Succession.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the original?
It belongs to the Museum of Modern Art (inv. no. 298.1983). The work is recorded in Wikidata, and the photograph we paint from is on Wikimedia Commons.
How big is the original?
It measures 122.7 x 162.6 cm. We give the width first; the height is 162.6 cm. Our largest size is 120 x 160 cm.
When was the painting made?
In 1914.
What does the painting show?
Nothing figurative: thick strokes of colour on a warm ochre and yellow ground, a long near-black mass across the upper half, a yellow centre and a large, pale curving form at the lower right.
Is this a print?
No. It is a canvas painting, painted by hand in oil; the brushstrokes show in raking light and can be felt with the fingertips.
Which size should I choose?
For a living room 80 x 110 and 89 x 116 cm work best, above a desk or in a hallway 60 x 80 and 70 x 90 cm. Before deciding, tape a sheet of paper of the chosen size to the wall and leave it there for a day.
Can I have a size that is not on the list?
Yes. We also paint sizes outside the list and tell you how the forms will be arranged.
How is it delivered?
Insured and tracked, within the EU without customs. Before dispatch you receive a photograph of the finished painting to approve.
How do I care for the painting?
Remove dust with a soft, dry brush or cloth, without water or cleaning agents. Hang the painting away from direct sun, radiators and damp, and it will keep its colours for many years.
Is the original for sale, and what is it worth?
It is not for sale and has no market price. It belongs to a museum collection and stays there; what we offer is a hand-painted copy, not the original, and we never confuse the two.
Is the painting suitable as a gift?
Yes, especially for someone who loves Kandinsky’s forms and colours. If you are unsure about the subject or the size, there is a gift voucher, and the choice stays with the person who receives it.
- Subject: a near-black mass, a yellow centre and a pale curving form in thick strokes on warm ochre
- Original: Museum of Modern Art, 1914, 122.7 x 162.6 cm
- Our version: hand-painted oil on canvas, six sizes from 60 x 80 to 120 x 160 cm, on a wooden stretcher, framed on request
- Worth knowing: every painting is photographed before dispatch and sent to you for approval
