Signature

Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944) had numerous signature styles.

Sometimes he would sign an etching plate with one signature and then sign the final print with another. He both wrote out his surname and used various monograms.

Kandinsky sometimes wrote his surname in all capital letters and other times signed in cursive. His monogram also varied but usually consisted of a "K" for Kandinsky with another shape or marking. He did date some, but not all of his works.

Ohne Titel. Signed with the monogram and dated '23' in the lower left. Watercolour and brush and pen with India ink on card

Signed with monogram and dated '33' on the lower left. Zickzack in Weich is also dated, titled, numbered and inscribed '1933 "Zickzack in Weich" No 518 "Zigzag en entourage mou"' on the reverse of the artist's mount. Gouache and watercolor on paper laid down on card.

Ohne Titel. Executed in 1930 and signed and dated with monogram in the lower left. Watercolor and brush and pen and India ink on paper laid down on card.

Schwebender Druck. Oil on board, painted in November 1931. Signed with monogram and dated '31' on the lower left.

While Kandinsky created colorful compositions, his signatures were usually applied with black paint or pencil. He would sign in a lower corner of the composition in a rather indiscreet manner.

Signature is rarely sufficient for authenticating a painting, signatures must be checked, but results must be carefully placed in the correct context. A signature is only one element, and not a determining one, in the process of authentication.