On White II

 On White II is hailed by many critics to be the most famous of Wassily Kandinsky's paintings and is a textbook example of 'Abstract Geometric Art.' The composition of the painting is characterized by a mixture of squares, rectangles, circles, curves and angles -- an expression of Kandinsky's talent and passion for architecture. The painting is also marked by an intelligent combination of black and white. Kandinsky is famous for having used color to represent more than just shapes and figures in his paintings. [Kandinsky's unique color theory is discussed in detail in his book Concerning the Spiritual in Art.] In On White II, the many dimensions of the color white are used to represent the many possibilities and opportunities available in life. This contrasts drastically with his use of the color black which represents non-existence and death. Kandinsky expressed the color black as the silence of death -- and in On White II, the black cuts through the white background with a riotous effect, seemingly shattering the peace of the colorful combination of colors. This illustrates how quickly and easily all of the opportunities of life can be taken away by death. The overall effect of the painting can be connected to Kandinsky's love for music. The riot of colors is quite similar to the riot of notes a good piece of music creates. In Kandinsky's words, "music is the ultimate teacher." Because of his synesthesia, he always related the art of painting with composing music. Upon looking at a work of art, Kandinsky could actually hear the 'notes' that had been painted and therefore, often referred to his paintings as  'Compositions.' In his words, "Color is the keyboard, the eyes are the hammer, the soul is the piano with the strings."

Sources:
http://ezinearticles.com/?His-Most-Famous-Painting-(On-White-II)---Wassily-Wassilyevich-Kandinsky&id=2329200
http://totallyhistory.com/on-white-ii/