The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art

Imagine young Wassily Kandinsky, known as Vasya, growing up within the strict classical traditions of late 1800s Moscow. One day, he would become one of the pioneers of abstract art. After his parents’ divorce, he was raised by his aunt in Odesa, a vibrant coastal city on the Black Sea. There, she introduced him to art and gave him his first paint set. This small, latched box may have seemed ordinary, but once opened, it offered endless possibilities. What began as a simple gift became a symbol of Vasya’s future, guiding him toward the artistic path that would one day change modern art. 

The Noisy Paint Box follows young Vasya as his imagination begins to awaken, while a quiet longing for something more slowly grows. The text explains that Vasya tried to “live the way people expected,” but adulthood brings him closer to a moment when he can no longer ignore his artistic calling. The story reads like the wonder of a picture-book biography, using imagined dialogue while remaining grounded in documented events from Kandinsky’s life. 

Through specific moments, readers watch young Vasya grapple with his individuality, dream beyond established norms in art, and reveal a surprising gift that makes him different. The text gently suggests that Vasya experiences chromesthesia, a sensory phenomenon in which sounds are perceived as colors. “What a noisy paint box!” Vasya exclaims as he hears hissing, clinking, burbling, clanging, and twinkling in his head while he stirs and swirls colors together. This rare sensory trait becomes especially meaningful, helping readers understand how Vasya’s unexpected way of seeing and hearing the world shaped his creative vision. 

A central thread in the story is individuality. Vasya’s first experience with painting feels magical, as the text describes color trilling “like an orchestra” in his head. But this freedom does not last long, as Vasya is soon instructed by his family and teachers to make art in a more conventional way. “He learned to draw houses and flowers–just like everyone else.” When he grows older, Vasya studies to be a lawyer. The illustrations first convey the joy of his childhood discovery of painting, then gradually shift toward a more reflective longing as he becomes an adult. 

Imagination and the courage to be different are themes that readers will especially appreciate. “Vasya couldn’t ignore the sounds of the colors singing to him in the streets of Moscow.” A dramatic turning point comes when Vasya attends an opera and is overcome with feelings and artistic inspiration. At age thirty, he decides to leave the law profession and study art in Munich, Germany. Yet restlessness follows. His college professors assess his paintings and ask him, “What is it supposed to be?” Though Vasya cannot yet put his vision into words, he finds support among artist friends and perseveres, slowly moving closer to the abstract style that would define his legacy. 

The Noisy Paint Box offers a look into a remarkable life. What begins with a simple paint box given to a child eventually helps set in motion the career of one of the pioneers of abstract art. Although it took many years for Vasya to fully share his gift with the world, he would go on to become legendary. The text explains, “Vasya heard the colors singing. Vasya saw the music dancing.” His gift is described throughout the story in ways young readers can easily visualize. The illustrations, which earned a 2015 Caldecott Honor, echo the colors, shapes, and energy of Kandinsky’s work without directly copying it, creating a child-friendly interpretation of his artistic style.  

The Noisy Paint Box is a picture book biography with the charm of whimsical historical fiction. The final author’s note provides helpful context on Vasya’s life and explains how his first fully abstract painting helped spark a revolution in the art world. Through a well-paced narrative and expressive illustrations, the story introduces children to art as a way to understand individuality and encourages conversations about each person’s unique point of view. 

Sexual Content  

• None 

Violence  

• None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

• None 

Language  

• None 

Supernatural 

• None 

Spiritual Content  

• None 

by Maureen Lowe