Theosophy

Theosophy is a system of speculation or knowledge with particular focus on all things spiritual. It is also considered to be a part of a broader field, which deals with hidden knowledge, and wisdom that offers and individual salvation and enlightenment, called esotericism. The goal of Theosophists is to investigate and understand the mysteries of the universe, humanity and the divine world. Theosophists believe in universal brotherhood, the unity of all beings. They believe everything in the universe is connected in a way that transcends physical bodies. They aim to explore the origins of divinity and humanity including the end of the world, life and humanity.

Theosophy explores questions of metaphysics especially within the areas of the mind, religion and the sciences. Theosophists feel that knowledge should come from both internal and external sources, meaning that they discover things about themselves as well as acknowledging scientific fact. Both truths are given equal value and each individual theosophist’s ideas and questions are different and dynamic due to the nature of the dual focus on externalism and internalism.

Theosophy influenced specific artists and art movements. Artists and movements that were directly linked to Theosophy, such as Der Blaue Reiter, did not share a specific style in the way that other art movements do. Instead they shared the belief that colour and form could communicate the soul of the artist to viewers. They understood that shapes, lines, colours and patterns all have psychological effects on people and the artists used these elements in much the same way as a musical composer might us harmony, melody or timbre (tone quality). One artist from the Der Blaue Reiter movement, Wassily Kandinsky, insisted that colour is a means to exert a direct influence on the soul. He believed that colour and form have the ability to call forth vibrations which enrich the soul and that the 21st century would be a time of paradise on earth and there would be an emergence of a finial spiritual world after a great catastrophe. As a theorist, Kandinsky was concerned with bringing feelings and moods into art and expressing spirituality. He used colour, line and composition to do just that. Although Kandinsky was a theorist and artist, he classed himself as simply a Theosophist. Theosophists believed that everything in the universe was linked and that colours, sounds, matter and gender are all inter-related in a spiritual. Many of the 20th century’s ‘thinkers’ were attracted to Theosophy because of the major technological changes that were happening around them. These changes made them uncomfortable and the promise of ‘universal truths’ that Theosophy presented appealed to them. Theosophy formed the spiritual basis for Kandinsky’s thoughts while art provided him with an outlet for these thoughts as well as a certainty in a time of great change. Paintings that were influenced by Theosophy are said to be representative of either what the spectator lives or feels while viewing the picture or what the artist was feeling and/or thinking at the time of painting. Colours were given specific meanings, for example, purple stood for sad, morbid and extinguished while blue was deep, supernatural and peaceful. Theosophist’s believed that the apocalypse was coming and that there would be peace on earth afterwards.

Moscow; Wassily Kandinsky

Fighting Forms; Franz Marc

Untitled; Anneke Campfens

Theosophy is seen in this painting by Wassily Kandinsky through his use of symbols and colour. In this painting we can see a rainbow and some light rays. In theosophical paintings, these symbols pertain to the idea of hope after the flood and hope that there will be another, better life after the apocalypse. Although there are no horses in this particular painting, horses are a symbol of the apocalypse. The use of symbols in this painting highlights how it was influenced by the theosophical theories that Kandinsky used and followed in his everyday life.

This non-representational, abstract painting by Franz Marc depicts two forms intertwined with each other, apparently fighting. This could be seen as the perpetual fight between good and evil or between the materialistic and spiritual worlds. It seems as though the red form is winning the fight however it could still go either way. This suggests to the viewer that the war between good and evil on earth is on-going and while one side may appear to have more power for a short amount of time, there is still the chance that either side could come out on top.

In my painting that was inspired by theosophy, I used light rays and a rainbow to show that there is always hope that something better will come along, whether it is after the apocalypse or before. I included a horse to show that the end of the world is coming, with the human race helping it along the way, although we do not know when. The child-like quality employed to paint it symbolises that the human race do not know what they are doing to the earth that is leading to its end.

Theosophy had a significant impact on the art of Der Blaue Reiter. This is obvious due to the fact that the members of this movement did not share specific features in their artwork, instead sharing the theory of Theosophy. Theosophy is a very insightful theory that allows insight into aspects of art usually left un-investigated, such as symbols of the apocalypse. The most common of these symbols being the four horses of the apocalypse, although often only one horse is depicted, rainbows and rays of light. Theosophical artists used so much more than just symbolism to convey their thoughts and feelings. Everything in every painting contributes to the meaning behind it. We know this because one of their main beliefs was that shapes, lines, colours and patterns all have psychological effects on people which they wished to use in order to get their message across.