Famous Paintings in the Centre Pompidou: a Ranked Reference List

1. Yellow, Red, Blue by Wassily Kandinsky, 1925
2. Portrait of the Journalist Sylvia Von Harden by Otto Dix, 1926
3. Blue Nude III by Henri Matisse, 1952
4. The City of Paris by Robert Delaunay, 1912
5. On White II by Wassily Kandinsky, 1923
6. Composition IX by Wassily Kandinsky, 1936
7. Self Portrait - the Frame by Frida Kahlo, 1938
8. Black Cross by Kazimir Malevich, 1915

1. 
   1

   Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944)

   1. Yellow, Red, Blue by Wassily Kandinsky, 1925

   1925Oil on canvas127 × 200 cmCentre Pompidou, Paris

   This dynamic composition captures the essence of modernism through its bold use of color, geometric shapes, and expressive lines. The Bauhaus philosophy emphasized the unity of art, craft, and technology, influencing Kandinsky's approach to abstract painting. While "Yellow, Red, Blue" is purely abstract, it carries deep symbolic meaning.

   Oil reproduction from $177 Canvas print from $42

   Catalogue entryWorks by Wassily Kandinsky

2. 
   2

   Otto Dix (1891–1969)

   2. Portrait of the Journalist Sylvia Von Harden by Otto Dix, 1926

   1926Oil and tempera on wood panel89 × 121 cmCentre Pompidou, Paris

   Dix was a key figure in the Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity) movement, which emerged in Germany during the 1920s as a reaction against Expressionism. "Portrait of the Journalist Sylvia Von Harden" exemplifies this approach, showcasing Dix's ability to capture the psychological depth and social context of his subjects.

   Catalogue entryWorks by Otto Dix

3. 
   3

   Henri Matisse (1869–1954)

   3. Blue Nude III by Henri Matisse, 1952

   1952Cut-paper collage on paper112 × 73 cmCentre Pompidou, Paris

   This piece exemplifies Matisse's mastery of abstract art, showcasing his ability to convey the essence of the human figure through simplified shapes and bold lines. The artwork depicts a seated figure in a relaxed, contemplative pose, with legs crossed and arms resting on the knees. The figure is rendered in a minimalistic yet expressive style, emphasizing introspection and solitude. The simplicity and abstraction of the form in Blue Nude III symbolize universal themes such as introspection, solitude, and the essence of humanity stripped down to its most basic elements.

   Oil reproduction from $177 Canvas print from $42

   Catalogue entryWorks by Henri Matisse

4. 
   4

   Robert Delaunay (1885–1941)

   4. The City of Paris by Robert Delaunay, 1912

   1912Oil on canvas267 × 406 cmCentre Pompidou, Paris

   The artwork presents a fragmented scene centered around figures interacting with an abstracted chariot pulled by horses. These forms aren’t rendered realistically; instead, Delaunay breaks them down into geometric shapes, suggesting motion and energy within a fractured architectural setting. This painting is deeply rooted in the principles of Orphism, an abstract art movement co-founded by Delaunay himself. The influence of both Cubism (in the fracturing of forms) and Futurism (in the depiction of speed and dynamism) is readily apparent.

   Oil reproduction from $227 Canvas print from $42

   Catalogue entryWorks by Robert Delaunay

5. 
   5

   Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944)

   5. On White II by Wassily Kandinsky, 1923

   1923Oil on canvas105 × 98 cmCentre Pompidou, Paris

   “On White II” (1923) by Wassily Kandinsky is a pivotal work in the evolution of abstract art, representing a mature expression of his lifelong exploration into the spiritual power of color and form. Created during Kandinsky’s influential tenure at the Bauhaus school in Weimar, Germany, this painting exemplifies his shift towards a more geometric style. Departing from earlier, freer abstract expressionism, “On White II” features a complex interplay of triangles, rectangles, circles, and lines arranged against a luminous off-white background. The painting resided in Kandinsky’s dining room at Bauhaus Dessau, highlighting its personal significance to him.

   Oil reproduction from $177 Canvas print from $42

   Catalogue entryWorks by Wassily Kandinsky

6. 
   6

   Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944)

   6. Composition IX by Wassily Kandinsky, 1936

   1936Oil on canvas113 × 195 cmCentre Pompidou, Paris

   Kandinsky's Composition IX is a riot of color and form, featuring a bold palette of yellows, reds, blues, greens, and purples. The artwork is divided into several distinct sections, each filled with a variety of abstract shapes and lines that create a sense of depth and complexity. Kandinsky's technique in Composition IX is a mix of brushwork and other tools to create texture and depth. Created in 1936, Composition IX reflects Kandinsky's mature style, influenced by his time at the Bauhaus school of art and architecture.

   Oil reproduction from $177 Canvas print from $42

   Catalogue entryWorks by Wassily Kandinsky

7. 
   7

   Frida Kahlo (1907–1954)

   7. Self Portrait - the Frame by Frida Kahlo, 1938

   1938Glass painting29 × 21 cmCentre Pompidou, Paris

   In this arresting work, Kahlo presents herself against a stark, minimalist background, yet her presence is anything but simple.

   Oil reproduction from $177 Canvas print from $42

   Catalogue entryWorks by Frida Kahlo

8. 
   8

   Kazimir Malevich (1879–1935)

   8. Black Cross by Kazimir Malevich, 1915

   1915Oil on canvas80 × 80 cmCentre Pompidou, Paris

   A single black cross rests upon a field of aged, off-white parchment. The shape is a Greek cross, its four arms extending with equal weight from a central intersection. There is no depth here, only the flat collision of dark pigment and light ground. Two rectangular bars, one vertical and one horizontal, lock into a heavy, symmetrical presence. Created in 1915, this work emerged from a period when the artist abandoned all traces of representation. It was first presented at The Last Futurist Exhibition 0,10.

   Oil reproduction from $177 Canvas print from $42

   Catalogue entryWorks by Kazimir Malevich

The Centre Pompidou (Beaubourg, Centre Georges Pompidou, Centre Pompidou-Metz) — cultural complex — in Paris, France. Its highlights: Musée National d’Art Moderne, Public information library, IRCAM music research centre. Our catalogue lists 373 of its paintings and works on paper, by 60 artists, dated 1885 to 2008.