The Mathematical
Approach in
Contemporary Art Notes


1. This essay was first printed by the review Werk (Nr.3, 1949, Winthertur). It appeared afterward in another version in the catalogue of the exhibition Pevsner, Vantongerloo, Bill in the Zurich Kunsthaus in 1949 and finally in a monograph, Max Bill, published in Spanish, French, English and German, edited by Thomas Maldonado (Buenos Aires, 1955). This essay has been reprinted in several countries and languages. This translation by Morton Shand first appeared in Arts and Architecture (Los Angles), No,8, 1954. It was reprinted in Max Bill (The Buffalo Fine Arts Academy & The Albright-Knox Art Gallery, 1974).

2. The italic, bold, underline annotations are not part of the original text. An original unannotated version of Morton Shand's translation are available here in html, ascii, PostScript and dvi forms.

3. "Concerning the Spiritual in Art" seems to be the correct title of Kandinsky's essay often known as "The Spiritual Harmony in Art"

4. It is absolutely remarkable that this visionary essay written in 1949 remains so fresh and current in 1999 after firfty years of intense developments in mathematics, computers, arts and their interrelations. As remarkable is that Max Bill's message remains so widely unknown and ignored while so many could benefit from it.


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