Konrad and Alexandra (pdf) - Rolf Gross

A Visit to Kandinsky
Murnau 1913
Alexandra called Kandinsky. A few moments of embarrassed silence passed before he
remembered her, but then his voice changed. "Yes, of course, the Georgian princess who can
see music and reads Nietzsche!" he joked in Russian. He invited Alexandra and Claudia. "You
will be surprised, I have found an abstract mode to paint music! I am very curious what you will
hear with your sensitive, blue eyes."
Claudia drove. They first visited Clara Westhoff in Berg who received them with open
arms.
They had an early lunch with Ruth, and afterwards, over coffee, Clara read, as she had
promised Alexandra on the train, from Rilke’s unfinished Duineser Elegies. Claudia moved,
became very quiet. The stanzas were composed of complex religious images of such density
that several times Alexandra had to ask for a rereading.
They told Clara of their invitation to Kandinsky’s house for the late afternoon. Clara had
kept the day free for Alexandra and Claudia. "You know, I would really like to join you. Maybe I
would understand his paintings better when he explains them."
Alexandra called Kandinsky, and with only a trace of sarcasm in his voice, he said. "Do
bring her. Three young women! I will have to collect all my charm, but it should be my
pleasure."
When they arrived at the Russenhaus—as a young boy had called it whom they had
asked for directions in Murnau—Kandinsky received them in high spirits. "For three weeks I
have been alone in this house, holed up painting. It is a pleasure to be distracted by you."
Gabriele Münter was in Italy. "You are lucky to find me in Murnau, we travel a great
deal. Come sit down and let me make some tea."
He fussed with the pots and cups in the kitchen. Dozens of canvasses cluttered the
house, seemingly chaotic, abstract paintings, just as Clara had described them. In her mind
Alexandra called them “doodles,“ several confusing layers of doodles, one on top of the other,
very colorful, but apparently meaningless. Puzzled Alexandra stared at the paintings trying to
extract the music that might have inspired them, but heard nothing.
Kandinsky returned with a silver serving tray, four delicate Meissen teacups, a matching
pot, and torte from the local bakery. "Gabriele’s china. I have become accustomed to having a
woman in the house, forgive my poor service."
Alexandra’s eyes examined the paintings leaning along the walls of the room.
"So what do you hear?" Kandinsky asked.
"Nothing," said Alexandra not very gracefully.
"Wait, I will put on the recording that inspired this large composition over there."
He picked a black disc from the bookshelf. "Since our conversation with Webern and
Schoenberg I have tried to paint Farbensymphonien. It was very frustrating. I do see colors to
music but cannot do the opposite. I cannot spontaneously hear the music of what I paint. So
Princess Alexandra, I followed your advice. I tried over and over again to paint the colors and
forms which I see when I hear music. I fear only I will see the music which I hear, but perhaps
you can help me."
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