The Art of Sound: How Music Influenced the Masters

Art and music have always been intertwined—two distinct yet deeply emotional languages. For many classical artists, music wasn’t just a source of pleasure; it was a creative partner, shaping their rhythm, mood, and vision.

“Color is the keyboard” – Wassily Kandinsky

Perhaps no artist explored the connection between music and visual art more deeply than Wassily Kandinsky, the pioneer of abstract art. Synesthetic by nature, Kandinsky quite literally heard colors and saw sounds.

“Color is the keyboard, the eyes are the harmonies, the soul is the piano with many strings.”
— Wassily Kandinsky

Kandinsky believed that just as music could express emotion without words, abstract shapes and colors could do the same without realistic imagery. His works often feel like visual symphonies—layered, rhythmic, and deeply expressive.

“I put my heart and soul into my work” – Vincent van Gogh

Though often tormented by inner conflict, Vincent van Gogh found comfort in music—particularly in its emotional resonance. While he didn’t write extensively about sound, he often used musical language to describe his process and the feelings behind his brushstrokes.

“When I hear music, I don’t just hear it—I see it in color, in shape, in passion. It becomes something I need to paint.”
— Vincent van Gogh (paraphrased from letters)

He referenced composers like Wagner in his letters and was captivated by the way music could “speak of things we cannot put into words.”

“Art washes away the dust of daily life” – Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso was known not only for his visual genius but also for his immersion in music. A lover of Spanish guitar and classical compositions, Picasso often painted with music playing in the background.

“Music and art are the guiding lights of the world.”
— Pablo Picasso

His early works, especially from his Blue and Rose periods, show an emotional resonance that many say parallels the melancholic tone of traditional Spanish music.

Inspiration Beyond the Canvas

The influence of music wasn’t limited to painters. Sculptors, architects, and even writers of the 19th and 20th centuries often referenced music as a tool for concentration, emotion, and flow.

Paul Klee, both a painter and violinist, said:
“Music is the ultimate teacher.”
Claude Monet reportedly preferred working in silence, but compared the act of painting to the sensation of “hearing light.”

These classical voices echo what many modern artists still feel today: that music is not an accessory to creativity—it is a core ingredient.

Today’s Studio Soundtrack

Fast-forward to now, and artists still rely on music to help them:

Get into a creative flow state
Match the emotional tone of their subject
Escape distractions and connect with their inner voice

Some build elaborate playlists; others let the rhythm guide their hands without thinking. But the result is the same—art that feels alive, layered, and soulful.

Harmony Between the Arts

The dialogue between music and visual art is timeless. As Picasso, Kandinsky, and van Gogh showed us, sound doesn’t just influence art—it infuses it with spirit. Whether it’s a gentle melody or a crashing crescendo, music helps artists connect to something deeper than thought.

“Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart.”
— Pablo Casals, Spanish Cellist and Composer

So the next time you pick up a brush, pencil, or tablet, try pressing play. Let the music guide your hand. After all, even the masters needed a muse—and many found it in music.

Music & Creativity