Vasily Kandinsky was born on this day 150 years ago. At the age of 30, Kandinsky left his law career to pursue abstract expressionist painting and art theory. His greatest inspiration was music: he listened to symphonies as he painted, gave many of his artworks musical names, and wrote extensively on his ability to visualize sound—a condition known as synesthesia.

Improvisation No. 29 (The Swan),” 1912, by Vasily Kandinsky

Circles in a Circle,” 1923, by Vasily Kandinsky

Composition,” 1934 (printed 1935), by Vasily Kandinsky

Small Worlds (Kleine Welten) III,” 1922, by Vasily Kandinsky